Influencer dies after TikTok drinking challenge

A social media influencer died quickly after live-streaming himself ingesting a number of bottles of robust alcohol on China’s model of TikTok, a improvement prone to renew the regulation debate.

The influencer “Sanqiange” (or “Brother Three Thousand”) was discovered lifeless simply hours after broadcasting himself collaborating in a contest with a fellow influencer which concerned ingesting Baijiu.

The spirit, often known as Chinese vodka, has a typical alcohol content material of between 30 per cent to 60 per cent.

An influencer known as "Sanqiange" has died after drinking four bottles of Chinese vodka during a live stream. — An influencer often known as “Sanqiange” has died after ingesting 4 bottles of Chinese vodka throughout a dwell stream. (TikTok)

One of his buddies informed the outlet that Sanqiange – recognized by his real-life surname of Wang – had taken half in an internet problem often known as “PK” in opposition to one other influencer within the early hours of May 16 and live-streamed the outcomes on his Douyin channel.

“PK” challenges contain one-on-one battles wherein influencers compete with one another to win rewards and presents from viewers, and infrequently contain punishments for the loser – apparently on this case, ingesting Baijiu.

“I don’t know how much he had consumed before I tuned in. But in the latter part of the video, I saw him finish three bottles before starting on a fourth,” the good friend, recognized solely as Zhao, informed Shangyou News.

“The PK games ended at around 1am and by 1pm, (when his family found him) he was gone,” he added.

Wang, described as a “decent and straightforward” particular person by Zhao, had a historical past of filming himself collaborating in comparable contests involving alcohol and posting them on the app.

A video showing to point out Wang collaborating in his remaining problem went viral on Chinese social media, however is now not accessible for viewing.

In current years, the nation’s booming live-streaming scene has given rise to a multi-billion-dollar business, wherein influencers with an entrepreneurial spirit compete to promote their merchandise in actual time on social media platforms.

Sanqiange started live-streaming after a business venture failed four years ago. — Sanqiange began live-streaming after a business enterprise failed 4 years in the past. (TikTok)

Wang’s loss of life is probably going so as to add to a debate surrounding the regulation of the business, which has attracted consideration from authorities in recent times as a result of lavish life of some streamers and the off-beat challenges they participate in.

Last yr, the nation’s broadcasting authorities banned kids underneath 16 from tipping streamers and restricted their entry after 10pm.

China’s National Video and Television Administration and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism have additionally moved to ban “31 misbehaviours by livestreamers.”

Among these misbehaviors are “encouraging users to interact in vulgar ways or inciting fans to attack with rumours”.