Driving services gain popularity under stricter traffic regulation

Companies make money by taking inebriated revelers back home safely

BEIJING - Following the country's decision to impose tougher penalties on drunken drivers starting in May, drinkers who have enjoyed an evening's roistering have become more willing to hire a driver to take them and their cars home.

He Jin, general manager of the Beijing-based Ben'ao Anda Automobile Driving Service Co, said that before May his employer received about 100 calls for service a day. That number now runs to more than 140.