New Delhi: China has significantly tightened its regulations for party and state employees, explicitly banning alcohol, luxury dishes, and cigarettes at official meals, among other lavish practices. This intensified crackdown on extravagance comes as President Xi Jinping wages a concerted “war against widespread hedonism” within the Communist Party, a drive launched after a grim incident earlier this year.
In March, a Chinese government official tragically died after consuming excessive alcohol with four colleagues during a seminar in Xinyang. Ironically, the seminar was focused on new government regulations promoting economical and sensible spending. The officials reportedly overindulged, finishing four bottles of baijiu, a potent Chinese liquor.
An official account revealed that the death was initially covered up, with colleagues attempting to conceal the illicit drinking from their superiors. The deceased official’s family was reportedly paid off, and alcohol consumption was falsely reported as the cause of death to senior party members.
This egregious case was highlighted by the Communist Party of China’s top disciplinary agency, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, as part of its latest campaign to denounce profligate conduct within party ranks. The Commission criticised officials who “turned a deaf ear and showed no fear or awe” despite repeated directives from the party centre.
The new rules, updated in May, build upon a 2013 frugality code. Beyond the ban on alcohol, luxury dishes, and cigarettes, they also forbid ostentatious displays such as decorative floral arrangements and elaborate backdrops at meetings. The purchase of extravagant equipment for events is also now prohibited. These measures reinforce the principle that “thrift is glorious,” extending to bans on using government-issued vehicles for private purposes and gambling while travelling internationally.
While Neil Thomas, a fellow on Chinese politics at the Asia Society Policy Institute, noted that “updating the frugality code will not solve Beijing’s fiscal challenges,” he emphasised its role in reinforcing Xi’s political control and burnishing his image as an anti-corruption leader, especially when ordinary Chinese citizens are grappling with economic hardships. Xi has made his intentions clear, demanding that officials “get used to living frugally.”
This crackdown has led to a record number of disciplinary actions, with nearly 313,000 individuals punished in 2024 for violating the “eight-point regulations,” a directive introduced by Xi in 2012 to curb misconduct and excess. As part of these disciplinary measures, officials are now required to diligently study Xi’s remarks on discipline and numerous party regulations.
