Edit: A previous version of this article mistakenly referred to Lin Lin's place of employment as a hotel. Actually, in Taiwan, a 酒店 refers to hostess bar not unlike a KTV lounge. The mistake has been corrected.
A 29-year-old woman in Taiwan has captivated the Internet with her unusual ability: Being able to finish a 700ml bottle of whiskey in 30 seconds through a straw -- without feeling sick or drunk.
The woman, who is a PR executive in a Kaohsiung hostess bar, recently gave an exclusive interview to Apple Daily Taiwan after her videos went viral online.
According to Apple Daily Taiwan, the woman, who is referred to as Lin Lin in the article -- she did not want to provide her real name and her place of employment -- used to serve in the navy.
Trained herself to drink for work
It seems that Lin Lin is naturally gifted at consuming large amounts of whiskey.
She does not feel faint or puke when she drinks a lot fast.
She wasn't always like this, she said.
When she joined the bar, the amount of drinking that came with the job overwhelmed her until she had to be warded.
Over her two years at the bar, as she drank more, she found that her capacity for alcohol increased as well, Lin Lin told Apple Daily Taiwan.
She realised this during a drinking session with a guest when she emerged quite sober despite finishing an entire bottle of whiskey.
From then on, guests would place bets on whether she can down an entire bottle, and would tip her rather generously.
Screengrab from ETToday.
Lin Lin added that in the most recent video that made her viral, she received a NT$60,000 (S$2,820) tip.
Would oblige with a drink if there's a tip
Since last year, people have been coming to the hostess bar to witness her drinking in action because they do not believe a girl can do this, she told Apple Daily Taiwan.
So, as long as a guest lays out NT$60,000 (S$2,820) as a tip, she would oblige with a drinking demonstration.
Now that she has gone viral, even more people want to tip her. Lin Lin told Apple Daily Taiwan that the minimum for a tip is now NT$80,000 (S$3,761).
She has a reason for this: She does not want to do this often.
Lin Lin explained that while she does not feel faint or puke when she drinks this much this fast, drinking like this is not good for her health. However, since guests request for it, she usually obliges.
Lin Lin takes supplements because excessive drinking is bad for the liver.
She also cautions others that not everyone is able to drink like this.
She plans to raise the minimum tip to NT$100,000 (S$4,693).
Hopefully fewer guests will try to test her capacity for liquor.
Plans to open breakfast shop
Lin Lin estimates that she will only need to work for another year at the hostess bar in order to save enough so that she can fulfil her dream of opening a breakfast shop.
Apple Daily Taiwan also spoke to a guest who is familiar with Lin Lin, who said that she once wowed 20 to 30 guests with her drinking and earned herself a six-figure tip in total.
Several big bosses also nicknamed her the "Secret Drinking Weapon" whenever she is engaged as a host because she can encourage guests to bid.
Her hosting fee is twice the fee of others.
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Top images via Lin Lin's viral videos.