Opinion | Xi Jinping's PLA booze ban gives troops a kick

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Published: 6:23pm, 28 Jan 2013Updated: 10:47pm, 30 Jan 2013

Chinese troops are getting healthier, they’re cholesterol levels are dropping and (brace yourselves, Japan) accuracy on the artillery range is now supposedly sharper.

And all this is happening because they’re giving up the drink – at least according to a report in the People’s Daily newspaper on Sunday.

Since taking the reigns of the Central Military Commission in November, Xi Jinping has been tweaking the country’s military protocol and part of his new “ten provisions” for the CMC – which includes cutting out fancy receptions and big dinner banquets – is banning alcohol consumption.

According to the state newspaper, “prohibition” has managed to alter the troops’ lifestyles drastically. At a military base in Chengdu, medical examinations revealed a “decrease in cases of fatty livers, high-cholesterol and high blood pressure” compared to last year.

With no more drunks on the firing range, going sober has also apparently managed to improve combat effectiveness and open up spurts of great military innovation once held back by the evil tipple.

“In the past, it was always about entertainment and drinking, this delayed a lot of work being done. In less than a month, I have been able to make huge progress in the development of a new artillery chassis. All thanks to prohibition!” said Li Rui of the Jinan Military Region.