Ban on diners bringing own liquor

Mainlanders will no longer be allowed to bring their own alcohol into restaurants in a bid to make customers familiar with international standards.

Following a ruling which came into effect yesterday, customers who bring their own liquor can be denied service at hotels and restaurants nationwide, the Beijing Youth Daily said.

'If we allow customers to bring their own alcohol, couldn't they assume it's OK to bring their own appetisers, rice and noodles?' said Chinese Culinary Association vice-secretary-general Bian Jiang.

The tolerance Chinese establishments have long afforded to patrons bringing their own, more inexpensive, alcohol is reportedly one of the few exceptions to a worldwide standard discouraging the practice, and is hurting the business community.

'We need to make Chinese consumers accustomed to international standards,' the report cited an official from the Chinese Tourism Hotel and Restaurant Association as saying.

The official said the tourism association aggressively sought the input of the Bureau of Industry and Commerce, the Commodities Bureau and the Chinese Consumers' Association during the drafting process.