Two beers ended up costing one driver $1819, the court heard.
Robert Wheeldon pleaded guilty in Whanganui District Court on Tuesday to one count of driving with excess blood alcohol.
Police prosecutor Rachel Willemsen told the court police pulled Wheeldon over on December 26. When tested, his blood alcohol level showed a reading on 91 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 50 milligrams.
He told police he only had two Steinlager beers, finishing the last one 15 minutes ago.
The court heard was Wheeldon was the owner of a Whanganui engineering company.
Judge Crayton noted this was Wheeldons' third drunk driving offence but his last offence was committed 17 years age.