When planning a budget-friendly Chinese-themed weeknight dinner, the most traditional alcoholic beverages consumed in China are baijiu, rice wine (huangjiu), and Chinese beer. Baijiu is a strong grain spirit that is central to many celebrations, though it can be quite potent and might exceed a casual budget or taste preference for some guests. For a simple grocery store run, standard Chinese lagers like Tsingtao are widely available, affordable, and pair wonderfully with a variety of dishes. Additionally, you can look for inexpensive cooking or drinking rice wines in the Asian aisle to keep things authentic yet economical.