Elite in China Face Austerity Under Xi’s Rule

Source: New York Times by Andrew Jacobs

Beijing — Life for the almighty Chinese government official has come to this: car pools, domestically made wristwatches and self-serve lunch buffets.

In the four months since he was anointed China’s paramount leader and tastemaker-in-chief, President Xi Jinping has imposed a form of austerity on the nation’s famously free-spending civil servants, military brass and provincial party bosses. Warning that graft and gluttony threaten to bring down the ruling Communists, Mr. Xi has ordered an end to boozy, taxpayer-financed banquets and the bribery that often takes the form of a gift-wrapped Louis Vuitton bag.

Struggling baijiu distillers explore alternative markets

Source: Want China Times

Producers of Chinese liquor or baijiu, a popular gift and tipple served at banquets, have been hit hard by the government’s frugality measures and companies are now looking to explore new business opportunities elsewhere, the Chinese-language Beijing Business Today reports.

Premium baijiu producers target lower end of market

Source: Want China Times

After Chinese authorities prohibited government agencies from consuming the country’s premium liquor brands, also known as c, major distilleries have begun tapping into the market with middle- and low-end liquor, reports the Shanghai-based First Financial Daily.

Diageo confirms aim to up Quanxing Group holding

Source: Just-Drinks By Olly Wehring 25 March 2013

The head of Diageo has reiterated the company’s preference to acquire a larger stake in its Chinese JV that controls the ShuiJingFang baijiu producer in the country.

Diageo set fair in China, despite tighter gifting controls

Source: Just-Drinks by Olly Wehring

Diageo’s sales in China have stayed firm despite stricter controls covering inter-governmental gifting and banqueting, according to the firm’s chief operating officer.

Moutai, Wuliangye hit with heavy fines: report

Source: China Daily

China’s biggest liquor makers, Kweichew Moutai and Wuliangye, have been ordered to pay the largest-ever fines in China for price fixing.

Glass half full for imported liquor

Source: By Liu Jie (China Daily)

Sales of imported liquor have witnessed continuous growth in China despite gloomy reports from high-end Chinese baijiu producers hit by the central government’s frugality campaign and a military ban on luxury dinners.

10,000 bottles of liquor on the wall

Dong Hanglin, from Yangzhou, Jiangsu province has collected more than 10,000 liquor bottles over 14 years. (Source: China Daily)

Mao’s $300 Red Army Liquor Suffers Before China Congress

Source: Bloomberg News | February 27, 2013

Kong Guoqing hasn’t seen a quieter Chinese New Year in the 12 years his family has been running their small liquor and tobacco shop in downtown Shanghai.

New Year cheer as Cognac rebounds – figures

Source: Just-Drinks By Andy Morton 18 February 2013

China’s Cognac shipments are back on track as Chinese New Year sales have kicked- in, according to new figures.