A police spokeswoman said they were called about 4.40pm when a member of the public reported a "a man who was struggling to walk was attempting to drive a vehicle" in the car park of Henry's Centre City, in Hanover St.
A reporter at the scene said the middle-aged man was unsteady on his feet, slurring his words and had to be supported by a police officer for a time.
The man was heard telling officers several times "I'm not that bad."
"Yeah, I'm probably over," he later conceded.
A police officer administered a breath screening test which suggested the man had more than 400mcg per litre of breath.
He was taken to the Dunedin Central police station and processed for excess breath-alcohol.
The alcohol limit for drivers aged 20 years and over is 250mcg, which was lowered from 400mcg in 2014.
Drivers who fail an evidential breath test with a reading of 251-400mcg of alcohol per litre of breath face a $200 infringement fee and 50 demerit points.
Those who record 400mcg of alcohol per litre of breath in an evidential breath-test face criminal charges.
