A draft amendment ruling that insurance companies should share responsibility and pay compensation in drunk-driving cases has sparked controversy after it was made public.

A driver tested for blood alcohol [file photo]

The draft, issued by China's Supreme People's Court, has been criticized for reducing the penalty on drunk drivers and, to some extent, encouraging reckless behavior.

Currently, insurance companies don't pay out in any incident of drunk driving that causes death or injury.

But in some recent court cases, judges have asked the companies to pay up.

Insurance companies say they will have to raise premiums to cover their losses if the draft becomes law.

One Shanghai insurance company employee, who declined to be named, said: "According to the insurance clauses the companies will be spared responsibility in drunk driving cases if the drunk driver is insured."