Judge Dominic Flatley was astounded at 50-year-old Jarrod Charles Olliver’s explanation for the events of February 21.
He told the Dunedin District Court on Thursday the level of 1660mcg was "incredibly high".
"You must’ve had quite a few pints ... I’m surprised you could walk," the judge said.
"You would’ve known there was no way you should’ve been driving."
Olliver said he did not feel drunk and put the crash down to being "momentarily distracted" by a cyclist.
A police summary described the defendant heading south in Anzac Ave, approaching the intersection with Frederick St.
Olliver failed to notice the car in front had stopped and collided with it, knocking it into another car in front.
Police found him standing beside his vehicle in the Emerson’s Brewery carpark, where he said he had earlier been drinking.
The crash happened when he was making the 7.5km drive home, he told officers.
"It looks as though you’d been at Emerson’s for quite some time, Mr Olliver. Why did you even think about driving?" Judge Flatley said.
"You’re lucky it wasn’t a lot more serious than that. You could’ve hit a pedestrian, someone on a bike or a scooter. There are plenty of students around there."
Olliver was on an expired restricted licence at the time but the judge noted he had no similar previous convictions.
He was remanded on bail until sentencing next month so police could make inquiries about reparation.
