In Chinese culture, alcohol holds a deeply dualistic role. On one hand, it is an indispensable social lubricant. Business deals are often sealed over glasses of `白酒 (báijiǔ)`, relationships (`关系 guānxi`) are built through shared toasts, and celebrations are incomplete without it. The pressure to drink, especially in a professional context known as `应酬 (yìngchou)`, is immense. Refusing a toast from a superior or a client can cause a significant loss of `面子 (miànzi)`, or “face.” This is where 酒瘾 (jiǔyǐn) becomes a complicated issue. While heavy drinking is often normalized or even encouraged for social and business purposes, admitting to an addiction is highly stigmatized. The Western concept of alcoholism is increasingly understood as a disease. While the medical community in China shares this view, society at large may still perceive 酒瘾 (jiǔyǐn) as a moral failing or a lack of self-control. Admitting to it can bring shame not just to the individual but to their entire family, making it a “hidden sickness” in a very literal, social sense. Therefore, many people with drinking problems avoid the label of 酒瘾 and the topic is often addressed with indirect language.
酒瘾 (jiǔyǐn) is a serious and often clinical term. It is used in medical contexts, serious family discussions, or in media reports about public health.