Because most ordinary people and small business are trying to minimise their costs and so they either dont put drinks in the fridge or have the temperature up way too high. The locals dont seem to mind but it is always my first question when I go to a resurant. Is the beer cold? Then I get them to bring me one to see as I have been caught out a few times and their interpretation of cold is a lot different to mine.

"fridge phobic" ?! if you really understand chinese culture you wont say that, west man always said "hot food, cold water", but execuse me , accroding to china traditional medicine theory , most chinese especially elders who think eat hot food, drink hot water will make your body more healther. so chinese accustomed to dirnk hot water, boiled tea or something since we are children.

it's not called fridge phobic. It's called liking their drinks on the warmer side.

According to ancient hokum, drinking cold things is bad for a number of reasons:

1. Cold fluids solidify fats in the stomach (especially while eating meat). This is a giant joke and has no basis in reality.

2. Cold water will hurt your stomach. Again, BS.

3. Cold water lowers your body temperature and makes you easily catch colds and stuff. Again, ancient hokum.

The REAL reason is because even to this day, most of the available water is disgusting and it needs to be boiled before you can drink it. Hot water = clean water.

Come on Guys you are using semantics, what's wrong with fridge phobic?!!! And yes, after educating my shop man with the use of the fridge (and freezer), all the locals starting drinking the cold beer and other drinks, and they agree it is better!!

Can you ask your local shop keeper before you answer? I am doing some very important research!!

I guess hot water doesn't help my thirst and make this horrible spicey food from changsha even worse than it is

well, i learned that on your period you arent even allowed to have cold drinks...

so they must collectively try to be women friendly.

"fridge-phobic"......I like the term.

I get a kick out the fact that when we eat dinner here (at my gf's mom's home) at around 6pm, the leftovers are simply placed in a bowl on a shelf in the kitchen, some get covered with other bowls some don't............soaking in the tasty goodness as they get ready for the inevitable breakfast treat the next morning. Chicken wings for breaky just doesn't do it for me. Oh they have a fridge, I don't know if it's even plugged in. Maybe it's just for storage. Any of you encountered this phenomenon yet? I have seen it with other families too.

May be the weather is cold in China,so people like hot drinks.