For the first few years of grad school (in the US) I skipped the weekly drinks night because I didn't drink and saw no reason to start drinking. In hindsight I rather regret that decision because as I later found out these were unique opportunities for profs (even normally very uptight or high strung ones!) and fellow grad students to unwind and share stories or anecdotes or tips that would never surface in any other context. Simply being there to listen would have been very enriching quite apart from the chance for personal bonding. (I do remember in later years some female grad students complained about it but the practice persisted). My experience of Chinese academia is rather limited but afiak weekly drinks night is not as much of a thing there.