The recent death of a 25-year old male in nearby Changzhou city, Jiangsu, highlights the dangers of Spring Festival binge excess.
24 February, as reported by Sina, a man was rushed to hospital after he collapsed. It has been reported that he suffered a cardiac arrest. His colleagues said that, after having returned to work that day, they were all discussing their holiday experience; that they had been planning to rest their bodies, when he suddenly rolled over and collapsed.
- 440 Million Rail Journeys Expected During Chinese New Year 2020
- Country Livin’ This Spring Festival; B&B Trends Break Tradition
Doctors remarked that it is normal to receive an influx of patients during the holiday period suffering from chest tightness and palpitations. However, despite an new increased awareness of the dangers of excessive drinking, hospitals continue to admit similar quantities of patients each year.
It is well-known that Spring Festival in China is a time for indulgences such as eating, drinking and smoking to be taken into excess. However, China’s age-old tradition of “rice-wine respect”, demands that the men of the family participate.
Increasingly, many modern men in China consider themselves “non-drinkers”; throughout the year they dread the Spring Festival period and the pressures to imbibe.
- Record Demand for Customised Chinese New Year Travel Plans
- Why the Younger Generation is Saying No to Chinese New Year
Speaking with The Nanjinger was 27 year old George, a professional teacher working in downtown Nanjing; “It is stressful, I don’t usually drink. I’m a typical example, whereby I can appreciate that it was a good tradition, but now it’s just an excuse for people to drink alcohol. So that puts a lot of pressure on some people. If you drink Chinese wine, it can show you respect them [people], so my friends and relatives use that excuse to make me drink”.
Discussing similarities between Chinese New Year and New Year traditions around the world, George went on to comment, “Well, at least at Christmas and New Year abroad you have the choice to drink, the amount you drink all depends on you. Here it is totally different, we don’t have a choice and are forced to drink. I really don’t look forward to it at all”.
While that may be debatable, the vast majority of what George says is true. If one is a “drinker” and young, Chinese rice-wine respect may seem fun and exciting, but for those who have chosen a more sober path, the tradition may fast be on its way out.
