Enforcement matters

Despite a bombardment of publicity on the consequences of drunken driving, there is still a long way to go before such reckless acts can be minimized.

Three traffic accidents caused by drunken driving claimed four lives in a week in Beijing. This year alone, three people have been sentenced to life in prison for the crime of endangering public security in a hazardous manner after their drunken driving took others' lives. But many still have not learned the lesson and get behind the wheel after drinking.

The average age of the four killed was only 28, and the three drivers are even younger with an average age of 27. The three who have been sentenced to life are also in their 20s. The message is that many of them are too young to be aware of the consequences of driving with liquor in their blood. In addition, they are confident of their driving skills even after they drink or become drunk. Many of them believe that they cannot be that unlucky to cause an accident.