MOSCOW, March 12 - RAPSI. The Russian government has approved a bill which allows courts to regard inebriation as an aggravating factor for crimes committed under the influence of alcohol or drugs, the government's press service said.

"The bill stipulates that a judge (court) who (which) makes the ruling may regard inebriation as an aggravating circumstance for crimes committed under the influence of alcohol, drugs or other intoxicating substances, depending on the social danger of the crime, its circumstances and the person who committed it," the press service said.

The Justice Ministry has drafted the bill together with the Interior Ministry, the Healthcare Ministry, the Federal Drug Control Service, the Federal Security Service (FSB), the Prosecutor General's Office and the Supreme Court.

According to statistics provided by the Justice Ministry, the number of crimes committed under the influence of alcohol or drugs is growing by over 10% every year.

During a meeting on traffic safety in October 2012, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said that inebriation should be considered an aggravating circumstance in car accidents.

The need to toughen punishment for drunk driving arose after an inebriated driver rammed into a bus stop in Moscow, killing seven people, including five orphans and their minders.