China Influencer dies after drinking large amounts of alcohol live

China: Influencer dies after drinking large amounts of alcohol live

A famous Chinese influencer died on May 16 after drinking a large amount of alcohol live. The 34-year-old, known as “Sanqiange,” filmed himself doing a challenge after losing a competition with fellow streamers. It then ran live on the Douyin platform, the Chinese version of TikTok, and was seen by several thousand people, TF1 Info reports.

According to netizens watching the scene, “Sanqiange” drank seven bottles of baijiu, a brandy very popular in China that contains up to 60% alcohol. An astronomical amount that was his undoing. His family found him dead 12 hours after his live broadcast aired. “By the time his family found him, he was already gone and didn’t even have the opportunity to receive emergency treatment,” a source quoted by the BBC told Chinese media.

He had been banned from the platform

“Sanqiange” was not his first attempt. Due to internet challenges, he had already consumed large amounts of alcohol live on Douyin and was promptly banned from the platform, which prohibits the consumption of alcohol during live performances. However, the 30-year-old managed to return there by creating false accounts. The last one had more than 40,000 subscribers.

This tragedy has reignited the debate over the regulation of vape platforms in China. Because it’s not the first time that a steamer has had an accident after a live broadcast. Our colleagues at the BBC recall that in 2018 an influencer nicknamed “Dafei” was found dead just hours after drinking alcohol and cooking oil live. Two years later, another Chinese died after overeating on Douyin.