This weekend, a rental van equipped with sick bags and high-visibility vests and manned by volunteers, will assist police by taking grossly intoxicated people from the central city to their homes.
The idea for the initiative came after intoxicated people were identified by Sergeant Chris George as being a problem for police during busy periods.
He recommended police copy a model started by a Christian group at the University of Otago campus, which transports drunk students from major events to their flats.
"We saw them [the Christian group's service] at the start of the year, and how successful it was and wanted to do something similar for the central city," Dunedin police alcohol harm reduction officer Sergeant Ian Paulin said.
Sgt Paulin said the rides home would be only for those identified as being grossly intoxicated, who had had people to look after them at their homes, and who were not in need of medical care.
"If we can get them home to their own beds, and someone to look after them, that is a far better scenario than in a police cell."
It was envisaged the scheme would free up police resources, as just one officer would accompany the intoxicated person and volunteer to their homes, leaving a police car and officer available for other duties.
Statistics indicated grossly drunk people were "more likely to become a victim or offender if left in the city centre in that state", Sgt Paulin said.
He stressed the scheme would not be affecting the fares of taxi drivers, as they "did not want a bar of these passengers".
Grace Bible Church campus pastor Josh Eyre, whose church is involved with the pilot, said volunteers would be contacted by police when their patrols came across people "who really need to go home".
Mr Eyre said the scheme worked well at university orientations, and "we are excited to work with police to make an impact".
