Forcing women to drink at business dinners has no place in modern China

In July 2023, a young female employee in Hangzhou was allegedly assaulted at a business dinner after being forced to drink large quantities of alcohol. This incident has sparked discussions about the role of women at business dinners and the underlying power dynamics. In the past, the author herself was subjected to similar pressure, where she felt obligated to drink despite her aversion to alcohol.

This was seen as an important professional skill, with women who could drink well-respected for their ability to maintain the mood of the table. The author wonders why a young female employee was invited to such dinners in the first place and what role they were expected to play. The allegations against Zhao Haifeng and Yu Tingdong in the Hangzhou case raise uncomfortable questions about the normalization of such behavior.

The incident highlights how power can function as an implicit order, where even when one's body says no, they may still feel compelled to drink. The case is particularly jarring considering Hangzhou's status as a modern and dynamic city. The anti-corruption campaigns and regulations introduced after 2012 have curtailed some excesses, but they have not been effective in changing the power dynamics around business dinners.

The Hangzhou case is a stark reminder that while economic cycles may change, certain power structures like the dinner table hierarchy can persist for much longer.