William Alexander Sutherland, a Bannockburn shepherd, appeared in the Alexandra District Court on Wednesday and was convicted for driving with a breath-alcohol level of 1322mcg.
The legal limit is 400mcg.
He has been remanded to appear on August 21.
Released figures show his breath-alcohol reading to be the third highest recorded by Alexandra police in the past five years.
Those figures - released to the Otago Daily Times under the Official Information Act - show the highest breath-alcohol levels recorded by drivers in the southern police district.
The highest reading was recorded in Oamaru, when a 41-year-old male driver recorded a breath-alcohol reading of 1662mcg.
The next highest reading was recorded in Dunedin, when a 30-year-old male driver recorded a breath-alcohol reading of 1656mcg.
The highest recent reading was in Rotorua - 1921mcg.
Southern district acting road policing manager Senior Sergeant Steve Larking said, ''these people represent a very serious risk to their own safety and the safety of all other road users''.
While alcohol could affect each person differently, there was a ''high risk'' if police had not stopped these drink-drivers they could have been involved in a crash resulting in death or serious injury.
Alcohol was a key factor in many serious and fatal crashes, and police had a simple message for those who drank and drove.
''The best advice is - if you're drinking, don't drive. It's as simple as that.''
Police and partner agencies were making progress in tackling drink-driving, but ''there's still a long way to go in terms of a cultural shift in attitudes towards drinking and driving''.
It was difficult to say whether those motorists listed as having high breath-alcohol readings were recidivists, but a quarter of all drink-drivers apprehended by police had at least one previous drink-driving conviction, he said.
Police in Dunedin were continuing to visit high-risk recidivist drink-drivers, offering prevention advice and information to assist them in dealing with issues relating to alcohol and driving.
''The response from some people we visit is positive and they are pleased to receive advice from police,'' Snr Sgt Larking said.
Police also held regular road safety campaigns and set up checkpoints, with the aim to breath-test all drivers stopped.
People should plan a safe way home, such as having a sober driver, or have money for a taxi before starting drinking, and ''look after your mates'', Snr Sgt Larking said.
''Don't let them or your family drink and drive. If you can't influence their behaviour, then let the police know.''
