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Q: Do you drink alchohol before or during a meal here in China?
Back home I would have my customary 3 to 4 beers before having the B-B-Q handed to me, but here in China I have found that it looks quite awkward to the Chinese that I do this. I tend to feel pointed out at these dinners and want to stay home instead. Any solutions?
If you feel its is difficult for you to have dinner without starting with several beers then maybe you have a problem. If you are out with friends, I would say have the beers you want, if you are out with a chinese girlfriend/wifes family, then don't, unless suggested by the older family members
Based on my background I am surprised you only ask about before and during, what about after?
Yes, and yes, a small drink before, and with. But not beer before dinner, too filling, wine's a better aperitif.
If I'm out dining with friends yes, it seems to be the only half decent cold drink on offer (aside from "juice" and those weird cold tea things). I don't mind drinking Chinese tea with my meal but often a cold drink goes better so beer does the trick. There's always water I guess!
Drinking is so masculine! I'm glad I dropped that misconception years ago.
I must drink beer because there is nothing else to drink! LMAO
Yes I always do before during and after a meal. My gf and her friends usually drink tea but sometimes I convince them to join me. Watered down beer is better than crappy Chinese coke or fake OJ.
For business we are usually half cut on the baijiu before we finish eating.
I used to drink whatever my Chinese friends were drinking to 'join in', but I found I was turning into a bleedin' Monk. So now I drink beer, before, during and especially after; unless the meal is very high quality, then G&T before, wine during and beer after the coffee.
before, during and after
I did at home and don't see why i shouldn't while i am here.
Depends on the conversation topic
Beer is ok for the usual run of the mill white monkey questions
however Spirits are better for the more personal ones
Another reason why I drink 
Hugh.G.Rection:
There are many good reasons for drinking
and one has just entered my head,
if a man cannot drink while he's living
how the hell can he drink when he's dead?
Anon.
MissA:
Phil, I think you just made up an entirely new word. What is intermit?
After sports we sit and drink a few cold ones before we even consider ordering food. I do it here and always did it in Canada with the guys from the hockey team.
Drives the waitress and managers here crazy as they don't understand that at all.
Nessquick:
Yeah, thats it. We also do same after football match. 3,4,5 cold beers, and than go home for dinner, or eat something small in pub first.
They should be really crazy about this here :)
