Rum puts Boulgaris in court

Multi-millionaire real estate agent Michael Boulgaris has been charged with drink driving.

Police allege Boulgaris had a breath alcohol reading of 589 micrograms when he stopped at a checkpoint in Greenlane on June 3. The legal limit is 400mcg.

Boulgaris entered no plea when he appeared before Auckland District Court on Wednesday and was remanded at large to reappear on July 14.

He told the Herald on Sunday he had a couple of drinks with friends on the night he was stopped and agreed to drive them to McDonald's for food.

"They poured me a couple of rums. I am not an alcoholic and I don't drink excessively, it's just one of those facts of life and it was unfortunate."

Boulgaris said he was considering buying his friends breathalysers.

The 43-year-old started in real estate aged 21, selling houses in Otara. He achieved fame on TV show Location, Location, Location but quit at the end of the third series.

Now co-owner of the Boulgaris Maguire agency specialising in top-end property, Boulgaris said he had no idea he was over the limit when he approached the checkpoint.

He remained calm.

"They [police] said I was one of the few people that was polite."

Earlier this year Boulgaris lost an Employment Relations Authority case and was ordered to repay $163,000 to Wesley Developments.