Chinese authorities have released regulations to ban civil servants from drinking alcohol outside their working hours to boost their work performance and improve the government's image.
The move can help state employees concentrate on their work and avoid mistakes, according to official media.
It is also deemed crucial in the prevention of bribery, which often takes place during lavish, out-of-office meals that feature liquor.
Similar rules are now being enforced in multiple regions - including the city of Nanjing and the provinces of Gansu and Qinghai.
While some local authorities have in the past cracked down on work-related drinking events, the recent push prohibits the consumption of alcohol in officials' private time on weekdays completely.
In the county of Qingcheng in Gansu, government workers, civil servants and staff at state-run companies have been ordered not to enjoy alcoholic beverages during and after their eight hours in the office.
For those who do need to drink during the week, they must send an application to their higher-ups in advance, according to a government release.
The applicants must explain the nature of the event, the identity of other attendees and how much alcohol they plan to drink.
The police authority of Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu Province, demands all officers in the city not drink on workdays to 'improve the force's conduct and enforce its discipline'.
In Nanyang, central China's Henan Province, Communist officials and civil servants will face random alcohol tests at least once a month to ensure they follow the no-drinking order.
Chinese authorities have released regulations to ban civil servants from drinking alcohol outside their working hours to boost their work performance and improve the government's image.
