Toddler dies after being given baijiu

A two-year-old boy has died after his father’s friends allowed him to drink cups of baijiu in China.

A two-year-old Chinese boy has died after being given 100ml of baijiu

The incident occurred following a meal at a friend’s house, when the boy’s father retired to a room to rest after “feeling tipsy” from drinking the spirit.

Encouraged by a friend of the father, the child consumed around 100ml of the spirit, became unconscious and “looked as if he was asleep”.

It is traditional to drink baijiu – which is generally bottled at around 40 to 60% abv – during or after a meal in China.

The child was pronounced dead from deprivation of oxygen and blood in the brain, resulting from acute alcoholism.

The three friends of the toddler’s father have reportedly been arrested and are being investigated for causing death by negligence.