The Rural Drink Driving Group, from Alexandra, and the Southern Traffic Alcohol Group, from Invercargill, will operate in Queenstown, Arrowtown and Wanaka as well as Central Otago townships in December and January.
Southern Lakes police will be supported by highway patrols and additional staff from Dunedin and Invercargill, to cope with the annual influx of visitors.
"We want people to enjoy the holidays, but to drink responsibly," Sergeant Bruce Martin, of the Rural Drink Driving Group, said.
"If they have been drinking, rather than putting themselves or other road users at risk, take a taxi or select a designated driver."
Sgt Martin said revellers should err on the side of caution with their alcohol consumption and budget an extra $20 to $30 for a taxi fare before going out.
Road Policing Intelligence figures show there were 17 alcohol-related offences during the Christmas and New Year period of December 20 to January 8, 2008, in Queenstown and 12 in Wanaka.
Those offences were up from 13 and nine respectively for the same period in 2006-07, but down from 20 alcohol-related offences in Queenstown and 14 in Wanaka for the same period in 2005-06.
The legal limit is 400mcg for a person aged 20 years and older.
The highest breath-alcohol readings recorded between the resorts were 1562mcg in 2007-08, 931mcg in 2006-07 and 1294mcg in 2005-06.
