Chinese man dies after downing a litre of alcohol in 10 minutes in drinking contest

The man was taken to the hospital but doctors couldn't save him from alcohol poisoning. (Representational)

A Chinese man tragically lost his life after participating in a high-stakes drinking contest after he drank one litre of alcohol in 10 minutes in a bid to win a prize money. The competition, organized during a team-building dinner in Shenzhen, quickly escalated, leading to a devastating outcome that has cast a harsh spotlight on the country's deeply ingrained "drinking table culture."

The ill-fated event began innocently enough, with the man, identified as Zhang, and his colleagues gathered for a seemingly ordinary dinner, South China Morning Post reported. However, as the evening progressed, his boss, identified as Yang, initiated a drinking competition, offering a tantalizing 20,000-yuan (Rs 2,28,415) prize to anyone who could outdrink Zhang.

As tensions rose, Yang raised the stakes, increasing the reward to 10,000 yuan for anyone who could surpass Zhang's drinking prowess. With the promise of a substantial financial gain, Zhang was determined to emerge victorious. He posed the crucial question: What would be the consequences if he lost? Yang's answer was stark - a 10,000-yuan bill to treat the entire company to afternoon tea.

With the stakes set, Yang selected a group of employees, including his driver, to compete head-to-head with Zhang. Zhang downed approximately a litre of potent Chinese baijiu spirit in a mere 10 minutes. The rapid consumption of alcohol took a severe toll on his health, and he collapsed.

Zhang was immediately rushed to Shenzhen Junlong Hospital, where doctors diagnosed him with severe alcohol poisoning, aspiration pneumonia, suffocation, and cardiac arrest. Despite the efforts of medical professionals, he died on August 3.

The aftermath of this shocking incident rippled through the company, leading to an abrupt shutdown. A company representative announced the dissolution, citing "unforeseen complications" stemming from the dinner.

Local authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, seeking to determine the legal ramifications surrounding this event. The incident has reignited intense scrutiny of China's deeply rooted "drinking table culture," where declining a drink or consuming too little is often seen as a breach of hospitality or a loss of face.

This follows a disturbing trend, where influencers, seeking to boost their online presence, have also met untimely deaths due to excessive drinking during live-streamed events.