The chapter entitled Warnings Against Wine in the Book of History of the Zhou Dynasty cautions against drinking in excess except when offering sacrifices. During the Han Dynasty, it was forbidden to drink in groups.
曾永義指出，中國史上歷朝每遇年歲荒歉，即實施「酒禁」。周《尚書》中有〈酒誥〉，告誡人平時不可多喝酒，只有在祭祀時方能飲酒。