Designated drivers benefit from alcohol law

BEIJING - The first Spring Festival to follow China's revision of its regulations on drunk driving has stimulated the market for designated-driving services.

A new law, named the Regulation on the Application for and Use of Motorized Vehicle Driving Licenses, makes the suspension of a driver's license into one possible punishment for a drunk driving conviction. The law first took effect on April 1, 2010.

The same year, hundreds of companies that hire out designated drivers began appearing in big cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Zhengzhou. But even with such an increase in numbers, the businesses found that the 24-hour hotlines they use to reserve drivers' time could scarcely keep pace with the demand for their services this Spring Festival.