Northeasterners tend to be heavy drinkers, but a chauffeur service in Harbin that aims to take drunken drivers home after drinking their fill has met a cold welcome. Some say there is no walking in the middle ground -- you either drink or drive.

Kan Xiaoming, a private business owner based in Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang Province, aimed high when he launched the service in May 2003.

"With someone else driving him home, a driver can enjoy himself at the dinner table and not have to risk drunken driving," he said.

As the Chinese become better off, many people have bought private cars and are having more dinner parties with their clients, family and friends.

"Many drivers have faced the dilemma of whether to turn down a toast at the dinner table -- it's neither polite nor manlike to do so, but anyone with reason would think twice before getting into the car afterwards," said Kan.

The hired chauffeur service his company offers charges only a few dollars, which Kan believes is quite affordable for car owners. "For hired driving in the downtown areas, we charge 30 yuan (US$3.6) and 50 yuan (US$6) respectively before and after 10:00 p.m., with no mileage charge," he said.

But he has received no more than 20 customers over the past seven months. "Most car owners are simply not willing to accept new things," Kan assumed. "They think it's a shame to hire another driver when they themselves are expert enough."

Though a considerable number of drivers Xinhua interviewed approved of the service, the absolute majority were not willing to accept it -- mainly out of distrust.

"Ask a complete stranger to drive for me? No way! Does he know how my car works? No, I won't trust him," said one.

Some drivers believe Kan himself is defying traffic rules by launching the service. It is agreed among many drivers that "As a driver you are simply not allowed to drink."

Wang Yusheng, a senior traffic police officer in Harbin, stands on neutral ground.

"As a new service, it needs time to prosper," he said. "Good services and more rules and regulations in place will gradually quell the public's distrust."

Still, Wang said a hired chauffeur was not the best solution. "You can't have your cake and eat it too -- so after all, you should give up either drinking or driving."

(Xinhua News Agency December 7, 2003)