Use of corporate cards at luxury bars and restaurants fell substantially in the first six months this year from a year earlier, government data showed Thursday, as the anti-graft law that took effect last September bans businesses from treating government officials, teachers and journalists to expensive meals and drinks.

The amount spent dropped 44.8 billion won ($39.2 million), or 8.8 percent, to 467.2 billion won for the January-June period of 2017 from 512 billion won a year earlier, according to data by the National Tax Service.

The amount used at luxury bars, mostly in the affluent southern district of Gangnam in Seoul, declined 49.2 billion won on-year, or 16.4 percent, to 250.9 billion won.