In China, a Chinese live streamer died shortly after consuming extreme amounts of alcohol in an online drinking challenge.
The 27-year-old influencer posted the drinking challenge on his social media account on Douyin, which serves as the Chinese version of TikTok.
China Live Streamer Dies After Drinking Too Much Alcohol
The incident unfolded as the influential live streamer embarked on a seemingly innocent drinking competition, determined to captivate his online audience with audacious stunts.
According to a report by BBC, the Douyin user, who goes by "Brother Three Thousand," broadcasted a shocking drinking challenge, wherein the live streamer drank several bottles of alcoholic beverages.
The influencer, which local media called Wang, is known for his liquor-drinking expeditions on the Chinese social network. His latest video, which was streamed shortly after his unexpected demise, shows him drinking roughly seven bottles of baijiu spirits during his live.
CNN notes in its report that Baijiu is a Chinese spirit, which often includes up to 60 percent of alcohol content.
He drank that much alcohol as he was competing with his fellow online influencer to win the most rewards and gifts from the viewers.
The challenge required the streamer to consume excessive amounts of alcohol within a specific time frame, putting his body at tremendous risk. Eager to push the boundaries of entertainment, he willingly subjected himself to an ordeal that would prove to be his downfall. Losing the contest comes with a punishment, wherein the sore loser must drink the Chinese alcoholic drink.
Wang's friend, Zhao, told local Chinese media that he saw his buddy drinking three more bottles of Baijiu after finishing his first four bottles. He recalls, "The PK games ended at around 1 am."
Soon enough, the effects of the alcohol took a sinister turn. After 12 hours since the online drinking challenge, the Chinese influencer has tragically passed away.
The streamer's wife confirmed the death of Brother Huang from the Central Plains, citing excessive alcohol consumption, as per Straits Times.
Chinese Livestreaming
The live streaming industry in China has boomed into a multi-million dollar industry. Streamers with thousands, if not millions, of followers, earn lucrative money from it. It has been an opportunity for those who are struggling to get by. Some are involved in selling their products, while others are merely entertaining their audience, amassing millions of views.
Straits Times notes that Wang's wife dived into the rodeo of live streaming as he was desperate to earn money. And by broadcasting on Douyin, her husband had cleared off his debt, which ballooned to hundreds of thousands before they tied the knot.
The untimely passing of Wang could potentially change the discourse that seeks to regulate the booming industry in China.
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