In an attempt to rein in bureaucratic excess and promote frugality, the government has renewed guidelines taking aim at conspicuous consumption and glut.
By He Qitong and Wu Yufei
No alcohol or cigarettes at dining tables, no lavish banquets, no luxury fittings or interiors in official vehicles, and no ornamental plants or backdrops at work meetings — these are among the new guidelines issued by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council to rein in bureaucratic excess and promote frugality.
The guidelines, originally introduced in 2013 to curb extravagance, were renewed on May 2 and mainly target public government and Party institutions.
The updated regulation provides more detailed provisions in official matters relating to domestic and international travel, standards for receptions, and rules on the use of vehicles and dining spaces. It also outlines clearer procedures for supervision and accountability.
The guidelines note that these measures are crucial for “tightening the institutional bolts to ensure Party and government organs take the lead in living frugally and deepening efforts to address the persistent problems of formalism, bureaucratism, hedonism, and extravagance.”
One major change is a blanket ban on serving alcohol at official receptions, aiming to curb drinking among officials. Cigarettes and extravagant dishes are also no longer allowed.
The central leadership has long warned that excessive drinking can impair work performance and, in some cases, lead to serious health-related incidents or even fatalities.
A recent example involved a county-level official in the central Henan province who died after drinking with nine other officials during a lunchtime banquet held in the middle of a training seminar, domestic media reported last week. Those present were given disciplinary warnings, demoted, or dismissed.
According to the Ministry of Finance, the central government has cut its 2025 budget for official receptions, vehicles, and overseas trips to 6.124 billion yuan ($857 million) — a reduction of 322 million yuan from the previous year. Spending on receptions alone has been capped at 302 million yuan, down by 13 million yuan.
The new rules also ban the use of government vehicles for personal purposes and prohibit luxury upgrades or interiors. The policy of prioritizing domestic and new-energy vehicles for official use, first introduced in 2013, remains unchanged, aligning with broader efforts to stimulate consumption, support economic growth, and reduce emissions.
A batch of new energy vehicles authorized for government use, Jiangsu province, Oct. 18, 2023. VCG
To further promote austerity, the guidelines require that meeting venues be kept simple, with no ornamental plants, flower arrangements, or decorative backdrops. Holding official events in tourist locations is also strictly prohibited.
The new regulation also emphasizes oversight, requiring Party and government departments to establish scrutiny mechanisms and strengthen supervision. It calls for coordinated efforts among relevant departments to conduct inspections and unannounced visits targeting known issues, improve disclosure systems, and increase public reporting of violations.
It also stresses the accountability of department heads, stating that officials who undertake “vanity projects” — image-driven government initiatives that prioritize image over practical results — that lead to the waste or loss of public funds, assets, or resources will be held liable.
On Sunday, at the annual shareholders meeting of Guizhou Moutai — China’s leading premium baijiu producer — the company reportedly replaced its traditional reception liquor with a self-produced, alcohol-free blueberry juice and prepared a buffet instead of a formal banquet. One shareholder told domestic media that in previous years, Feitian Moutai — the brand’s most iconic product, which retails at around 2,500 yuan per bottle — was placed on every banquet table at the pre-meeting dinner.
As of Tuesday, a hashtag relating to the new crackdown had garnered over one million views on the microblogging platform Weibo, with most comments praising the move.
In recent years, the government has repeatedly identified “tightening its belt” as an essential move in response to mounting economic pressures, urging departments to cut expenses across various domains.
Local governments in the northeastern Jilin province, for example, issued rules in 2023 banning the provision of cigarettes and alcohol at official receptions. Meanwhile, business trip meal expenses are determined according to “local economic conditions,” but must not exceed 120 yuan per person per meal.
Editor: Tom Arnstein.
(Header image: An inspection team checks for inappropriate spending of public funds at a high-end tobacco and alcohol retail store in Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Sept. 23, 2023. VCG)