Feasts with drinks were once a big expense for some local governments, but consumption of luxuries has been greatly reduced in recent years with the country's efforts to fight corruption.
Jiang Ming'an, a law professor at Peking University, said that it was understandable that the ban aroused controversy, as damaged the interests of the alcohol industry.
But the professor also said the document was not improper considering drinking could affect the image of an official and the government.
So far, more than 100 cadres in Xinyang have been reprimanded for flouting the ban.
"In the past, some cadres often drank alcohol together at midday, which affected their work efficiency and style," said a Xinyang citizen. "But now the phenomenon has almost been stamped out."
