Do you want to hear what expats do when they meet me? It may disappoint some conceited expats.

Let's start three other threads talk about the likes and dislikes about
The French
/the British
/the americans

Can't wait to listern. Go!

BillDan, I have experienced the same situations you have. I have not had a drink in 26 years and I didn't stop drinking because didn't want a drink.

Most of the time Chinese accept that I will not drink. But, from time to time, you get an arsehole who is insulted that you will not drink with him. I just say no and eventually, as you did, ignore them.

In Hebei, Baoding, I was promoting some stuff to the Baoding government. At dinner, with the Baoding Party leaders, when the ganbei phase started, I still would not drink. It got funny when they insisted I ganbei coke in those little glasses with them. We all became great buddies even though I did not touch the booze.

This topic has nothing to do with nationality or ethinicity. You can always find the social alcoholic in any group because he is the one filling everybody's glass as soon as it gets emptied.

This is typical dysfunctional behavior that goes hand in hand with Misery loves company. The alcoholic knows his drinking is bad, so he forces others to join him so the behavior does not seem so bad any more because there are others doing the same bad behavior.

I am a non-drinker. I drink 3-5 times in one year, I only drink beer, and when I drink I never drink more than 1 beer. This is my idea of a non-drinker. However, there are people in recovery (former drinkers) who no longer drink. BillDan mentions that he has been in abstinence for 6 years so he is the latter of the 2 non-drinkers.

Regardless of what type of non-drinker you are, you need to understand that the social alcoholic is the problem, not you. So dont take it personally. When you refuse a drink from a social alcoholic, he will feel the spotlight on him because he needs others to share in his bad behavior. The moment you say NO, others will also say no and this is his worst nightmare. So don't let it bother you. He has a problem, not you. Good luck.

Thank you, 123go. You've proven my point.

I go for dinner.

Yeah, those big formal banquets are usually nightmares to be endured. You will never do business successfully in China if you are not a heavy drinker. It is unfortunate. I mean, I drink, but after one of those horrid banquets I feel like my soul has been sucked out of me, then topped with a little gutter oil and chili peppers.

AlexKMG: BillDan. Your title sounds like you do drink!

"Found out I am not really because because I don't drink"

Any cop in the USA would whip out the breathalyzer after hearing someone say that.

Haha. Yea. That's why I don't drink. Sh*t, can't even type sober. Sounds more like I am on LSD I think.

To be clear I like China and Chinese people, other Chinese people have to deal with this stuff too. it is not something I typically deal with in regards to foreign people, and to be fair to about 90% or more of the Chinese population as I tend to avoid these deals when necessary. My wife is Chinese and she does not smoke or drink and most of her friends do not. These dinners just suddenly hit me one after the other. God, I hate them sometimes.

I have nothing except laugh.
Happy dragon boat festival.

Chinese drinking culture is silly. But I find it's amusing if a man refuses to drink at dinner party in China he is considered NOT A MAN but if a woman does the same she is credited TOUGH

Chinese can be annoying people and can jump on your last nerve at times.

I do drink. I have a Chinese wife and have been to many dinners and what have you. Sometimes for whatever reason, I do not want a drink, or a beer, but she will nudge me into drinking one because someone else is drinking.

I HATE toasting. It is stupid and I just hate doing it. "Raise a glass", why? Again, I have a little Chinese woman/wife and I worry about her sometimes drinking with the men and getting sloshed.

Baijiu is nasty liquor. It gives me a headache and a walking hangover