People from northeast China are known as heavy drinkers, but a chauffeur service that aims to take drunken drivers home after drinking their fill has received a cold welcome.

Kan xiaoming, a private business owner based in Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang Province, aimed high when he launched the service seven months ago.

"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 afterward," 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 respectively before and after 10 pm, 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."

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