You know that I subscribe an English newspaper called 21st century every year. I like reading English newspaper, which gives my study a hand. A good idea comes to me that I would like to recommend you some good articles from English newspaper. Let’s study English together.

Ban booze to curb corruption?

Sales of luxury liquor and cigarette brands have fallen.

And stock prices of some top liquor-makers have plunged （下降）after the State Council banned officials from using public funds to purchase expensive liquor and cigarettes as gifts or consuming them at business meals.

News of the ban and its effects have fanned heated discussion online about the government’s resolve and effectiveness in cracking down on corruption and abuse of public finance.

Many applaud the latest measures and hope they have long- lasting effect. But others point out that the prohibition will only work for a short time, and doesn’t come close to permanently solving the problem.

The persistent social ill of official drinking and dinning on public money, costing taxpayers billions every year, is not going to go away simply because the government has banned the consumption of certain luxury goods, skeptics（怀疑者） say.

Instead, the government should treat the problem at its root and find some effective measures to hold officials accountable to the people they are supposed to serve.

So, what is your opinion? Does banning officials from buying Maotai and Zhongnanhai cigarettes help curb the abuse of public finances?

YES: The measure may not be a once-and-for-all solutions, but it still works. Certainly luxury liquor and cigarette brands are the favorite of government officials, such as Maotai, Wuliangye and Zhognanhai. By banishing（摒弃） these from government procurement lists, lots of taxpayer money can be saved.

NO: The ban won’t last long and can be easily bypassed. The ban names only a few brands; but there are many more out there that corrupt officials can waste money on, and the central government simply can’t catch up by banning brands one by one.