Free Republic

A Chinese content creator died last week after livestreaming himself consuming an excessive amount of exceptionally strong alcohol. The 34-year-old influencer, who goes by “Sanqiange,” was found dead 12 hours after the May 16 livestream on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok, according to CNN. During the stream, he reportedly drank at least seven bottles of Baijiu, a Chinese liquor with an alcohol content of 30% to 60%. Sanqiange was allegedly involved in an online challenge, called a “PK,” against another creator on the platform. In a “PK” challenge, two influencers typically compete for gifts or rewards from their audience. The...

Some say it takes 300 shots to learn to love baijiu. Beijing loves it so much it recently spent three times its defense budget on the drink. Newcomers to China are usually horrified by their first encounter with baijiu, the fiery spirit consumed at banquets and family dinners, typically comparing it to jet fuel, paint stripper or drain cleaner. Even long-term expatriates often shudder at the stuff. ... cracks open a bottle of National Cellar 1573, made by Sichuan’s Luzhou Laojiao distillery. “This was not simply a magnificent baijiu,” he writes. “It was a magnificent drink. Period.” Usually made with...