Costly tipple

Beijing's traffic monitors have decided to strictly go by the rulebook and severely punish drunk drivers for the duration of the soccer World Cup. Anyone found driving under the influence of alcohol will be detained for 15 days, pay fines and stripped of his or her driver's license.

The latest effort is a precautionary measure anticipating a rise in alcohol consumption during the games. If the punishment can deter drunken driving now, then the campaign has to be definitely extended beyond the duration of the games.

Driving drunk is no doubt dangerous, but there has been little sign that a recent nationwide campaign against the habit has worked.