I feel the same! I don't smoke, but I like to drink (not excessively) but I appreciate alcohol, and tend to enjoy a nice whiskey or beer.

None of my female Chinese friends drink however, the only alcohol I've consumed snice being here was with a foreign teacher from the USA, and she left over a week ago now.

I'm not an alcoholic but I am missing the going out with friends and having a good ol' knees up. I think it's definitely considered un-lady like in this country though..

A lot of Chinese Women are very Vain ( my wife included) They know that smoking and drinking is bad for their skin and looks in general. You do not see many women smoking in public but drinking is more common up North at least . You have  3 choice's You can change your social circles or give up Smoking                   ( Not Beer that would be going way to far) or suck it up princess and party on

Ohhh this is a tricky one.  Sorry to say this but generally women that smoke are seen as immoral.  For whatever reason Chinese guys usually make a connection between women that smoke and prostitutes.  Not my thinking but that's how it works here.  Drinking on the other hand is unusual but should still be ok depending on the crowd.  For example, in front of your boyfriend's parents you probably shouldn't.  But actually many young women (obviously not all!) do if they're out with friends.  And some drink a LOT (although that is often to impress men they fancy - the capacity of a few girls here has impressed me so it can work, errr, I mean no comment).

EDIT: Just wanted to add something: There is a lot of small-mindedness to put up with here. Personally I think you should just do what you like as long as it's safe and doesn't get you fired.

What? Don't give 'em a fu*k. Why is there any need to care?

"Getting wasted" is probably unladylike in most places.   Drinking an occasional glass of wine or beer is not unusual among the women I know.  Alcohol is an acquired taste and some women just don't like it.  But I see many women in the bars and clubs drinking girly drinks so I don't think it is considered unladylike.  Smoking, as in filling your lungs with carcinogenic smoke, is considered unladylike anywhere, I think.  Especially in China.

I absolutely agree with Philbravery,As a Chinese woman,I used to drink a lot when I was so young 18-20years old .I felt not so healthy,I've always heard from people drinking and smoking are not good for our health and skin.after some time,I decided to stop drinking,CAUSE I DO CARE ABOUT  MY HEALTH AND SKIN ,I feel not so comfortable even I get a red spot on my face LOL.

we are just really about our health,skin and Shape. that's it.

Here in Australia, most girls are just crazy for Alcohol,It seems they don't really care about their skin or health which is sad.

I don't smoke and drink alcohol, in my country I'm a goody-two-shoes , in China that's what's 'expected' of all girls. Many of my female friends back home smoke and drink and many of my Western friends in China drink, too. 

I don't like the hypocrisy in Chinese society, why is it okay for men to smoke, but not okay for women... Yet, I really don't want to drink, as xinyuren said, it's an acquired taste, so I don't like it. I also don't like the smell of cigarettes. It's a personal choice.

My wife does certainly frown on women she sees smoking, but she likes to have a little alcohol with dinner from time to time.....  baijui with chicken she says... we have chicken quite often. ............ounce or 2 ...... Same goes for her Mom ............  other 2 sisters do not appreciate such a fine addition to a fine dinner.

Actually, it's the opposite in many circumstances.At a party of college or high school students, if a girl can drink alcohol, and in case she can drink a lot, everyone else would toast her and thumb up!  For a young lady who wants to work as a public servant or work in the state/owned company, the capability of drinking a certain amount of alcohol is very necessary.

I don't drink - never have. I just say it is bad for my health if i do. using the word 'health' seems to do the trick and i am not pressured anymore.

EDIT: in fact I throw in the 'health' word any time there is something I REALLY don't want to do ;o)

Don't ya just love patriarchal societies???

This topic will depend on where you are... in my local town, there are a lot of women who drink and smoke. No big deal. But then, it's a 1st tier city.

Yes Yes and definitely yes....not lady like and very machoism...

Considering how many women you see horking and spitting on buses etc... I think it is ok for you to indulge in a beer and a smoke!

Getting material compensation in exchange of sexual favours is considered lady-like in China

.Do what pleases you. If you need to change yourself to satisfy them, you should probably swap groups. On the other hand though, hanging out with them might help you turn to a healthier lifestyle.

Some time ago, I had a group of Chinese friends who would always tell me that I would be the only one drinking when we were out. So, one day, I decided to be polite and fair and drank for all of them.

I started drinking when i was 6, my  family all  drink, we drink everyday during lunch, dinner.  we barely get drunk and none of us smoke.

my dad used to ask me buy alcohol from liquor store  when i was a kid, so I could keep the change. 

I like vodka , beer, wine, whiskey is just disgusting.  

I think people are getting used to foreign women drinking and smoking.they'd still think you are physically attractive and exotic.But if you tell them you don't drink or smoke, they'd be taken by surprise and shake their heads hard and say"no...really?"

Try being a foreigner that doesn't drink coffee ........

many if not most women i met smoke secretly . 

the bottom line is this, women are not free in china and men hate women, and would use any excuse to look down on them.

women are supposed to be perfect little goddesses, if they are not they are damned whores. but whne it comes to chinese men, "he is a man, it is normal" (when explaining their shatty behavior)