Crackdown Cocktails: Are Free Drinks The Carrot Before The Stick?

Iain Shaw | Jun 2, 2012 6:00 pm | 4 comments | 3037 reads

With the 100-day crackdown on "illegal aliens" ongoing, Club Latte has decided to launch a new party called "I Am Foreigner" every Wednesday until the end of July. According to their flyer for the event, all foreigners attending will be plied with free cocktails all night. However, with many expats in Beijing keen to avoid the attentions of the police, some have already voiced suspicions that this party may well be a magnet for a bust.

Foreign Weibo users have dropped a few comments suggesting that the event could potentially attract the interest of the authorities. User "MaxBureau马克新" (aka promoter Maxime Bureau of The M Agency) summed up thus: "gather them, then check visas."

A few other things we noticed about "I Am Foreigner":

  • Interesting that the event is taking place at Latte, a venue that the US Embassy once warned its citizens to stay away from after an American was beaten up at the Gongti club.
  • This may be the silliest name ever for a club night in Beijing.
  • What is that poster? Those fangs, monobrow, leering eyes and generally sinister demeanor of the face on the cocktail glass doesn't exactly send a positive message.

While we're on the topic, it looks as if the crackdown has reached Shanghai - see this post for details of a raid on Shanghai bar The Apartment last night.

If you're tempted to check out "I Am Foreigner," be sure to take a copy of your passport, visa and housing registration.

Comments

New comments are displayed first.
Re: Crackdown Cocktails: Are Free Drinks The Carrot Before ...
Posted Jun 8, 2012 3:33pm by mimimarie2

Went there on Wednesday.The only thing I have to say it's that is shitty. "Open bar" is only bottles of prepared cocktail (vodka chocolate; not good I have to say). Plus you have to take your drinks at the bar like you were in a cafeteria...
Didn't feel in danger there but sure you're surrounded by chinese and there's only few foreigners. Think there's nothing to be worried of, it's just not worth it.

Marie

Re: Crackdown Cocktails: Are Free Drinks The Carrot Before ...
Posted Jun 8, 2012 1:18pm by Paul Ryding

Did anyone go along to Latte for the 'I Am Foreigner' party? How was it? Did many foreigners go? Did you get shaken down by the authorities? And how were your free drinks?

Managing Editor, the Beijinger

Re: Crackdown Cocktails: Are Free Drinks The Carrot Before ...
Posted Jun 6, 2012 7:51pm by Musicism

It would take more than just free booze to get me to endure any amount of time listening to the "kids tea party" music they play in Latte.

On another note... is there really anyone stupid enough not to see through this?

Re: Crackdown Cocktails: Are Free Drinks The Carrot Before ...
Posted Jun 3, 2012 8:29pm by ladymarmalade

Let 100 (foreign) flowers bloom...