China's Baijiu Industry Faces Decline as Youth Cut Alcohol Use

Neurologists warn that regular alcohol consumption damages the brain, reducing gray‑matter volume, impairing white‑matter connections, disrupting sleep architecture and raising the risk of stroke and heart arrhythmias. Experts say the safest level for brain health is zero, noting that alcohol acts as a neurotoxin and depletes essential B‑vitamins.

At the same time, young Chinese professionals are increasingly rejecting alcohol in social and business settings, opting for non‑alcoholic drinks such as bubble tea. This cultural shift has cut demand for baijiu, the traditional sorghum‑based spirit, with production falling for nine consecutive years to about a quarter of its 2016 peak. The decline threatens a domestic industry valued at roughly $170 billion and reflects a broader global move toward sober‑friendly beverages.