Almost a year since the drink-driving limit was lowered, the hotel industry wants to woo back ''spooked'' patrons.
Posters and coasters indicating how much patrons can safely drink and stay under the limit will soon appear in southern hotels.
It is part of a national campaign by Hospitality New Zealand.
Otago branch president Mark Scully, of Dunedin, said some patrons were nervous because they did not understand how much alcohol they could drink and still drive.
''The biggest concern to publicans right now is the fact that customers are generally spooked.''
Many patrons were abstaining and it was financially hurting the hospitality industry, he said.
''People won't even come in for one glass of wine with dinner because they are scared they are going to be over the limit.''
Hospitality NZ is promoting ''rule of thumb'' guidelines created by the government-owned Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd.
The rule of thumb for men is three standard drinks over two hours, and for women two standard drinks over two hours, to stay under the new 250mcg legal limit.
The limit was lowered from 400mcg on December 1 last year.
The guidelines were set at a conservative level but several factors determined how quickly a person's body could process alcohol, including eating habits, mood and fitness levels.
Mr Scully said he intended to use the posters and coasters when they arrived at his three Dunedin pubs.
But the lower limits were having a bigger impact on country pubs than city pubs in Otago.
Vulcan Hotel owner Mike Kavanagh said the lower limit had resulted in patrons drinking less in the historic St Bathans pub.
''Drinking is the new evil,'' he said, tongue in cheek.
''It's only been around for a few centuries.''
The ''hard-working'' musterers and farmers deserved a beer and a country hotel was a place for them to meet.
The drink-drive limit was having a commercial impact on country pubs.
''Only a fool would buy a country hotel today ... unless you're doing a good meal operation, you're not going to rely on booze any longer to make a living.''
A joint statement from police and the NZ Transport Agency said impaired driving remained a leading cause of preventable road trauma, affecting the lives of thousands of people every year.
A small amount of alcohol could affect driving ability, national manager for road policing Superintendent Steve Greally said.
''The best advice is always to make the choice to drink or drive, not both. If you've been drinking, call a taxi, take a bus or get a friend who hasn't been drinking to drive you home.''
