Viral assault case puts China’s heavy workplace drinking culture in the crosshairs
Two men—a Hangzhou official and a state-backed real-estate executive—were detained for allegedly molesting a woman after a business dinner at a karaoke bar; the case went viral on Weibo, sparking renewed scrutiny of China’s work-related drinking culture. Authorities condemned excessive drinking at corporate events, and state media framed the issue as a social problem tied to governance, while debates about gender dynamics and how harassment cases are handled in China intensified as companies report internal measures and Beijing signals a push to curb such hospitality practices.
