Frequent toasts are not unusual in Chinese business dinner. The Chinese are big drinkers especially in Northern and Western China. It does not matter if it is lunch or dinner. As long as a meal is being hosted, there will be alcohol.

Drinking a lot may earn you respect or trust, since many Chinese believe that alcohol causes barriers to come down and true intentions to be revealed. It is often seen as rude not to drink with the Chinese in a formal dinner. To maintain your sanity, either claim to be a non alcoholic or plead medical grounds as an excuse. This will let you off the hook with little or minimal drinks. Better yet, bring a partner who can drink on your behalf.

Chinese wine is the favourite, followed by red wine and beer. Chinese wine is more like fuel than liquor, having an alcohol concentration as high as 60%. No matter how good a drinker you may think of your-self, never, ever challenge a Chinese into a drinking contest. They will win, hands down.