Poilce in Cromwell are highlighting problems associated with alcohol abuse, following several incidents involving intoxicated people in the town.
In the most serious incident, an 18-year-old Cromwell woman was found to be driving with a breath-alcohol level of more than five times the legal limit for a driver her age.
The young woman's breath-alcohol level was found to be 777mcg, after she was stopped by police and tested as she allegedly drove towards a Cromwell liquor outlet to purchase more alcohol on Saturday evening, Acting Sergeant Philip Vink said.
The legal limit for a person under 20 years of age is 150mc of alcohol per litre of breath.
"That is not a good start to the world of the `adult' drinking age," Acting Sgt Vink said.
Police also arrested a Cromwell woman in her early 20s and charged her with assault, following a domestic incident in the town recently.
Acting Sgt Vink said alcohol had been consumed during the incident.
The woman is to appear in the Alexandra District Court on one charge of assault.
A 28-year-old Cromwell man was spoken to by police after being involved in a single vehicle accident on State Highway 8 near the Cromwell lookout this week.
Acting Sgt Vink said the man had been drinking before the crash, but was not over the legal limit.
"His driving may still have been affected by alcohol," he said.
Also this week, Cromwell police dealt with a group of young men fighting on Waenga Dr.
At least one of those involved - a 17-year-old from Cromwell - was intoxicated and spent time in police cells to sober up, Acting Sgt Vink said.
"The problem is the common theme of too much alcohol, and how it is being consumed.
By far the majority of our work is alcohol-related, whether it is in the traffic environment, in the bars, or at home," he said.
Acting Sgt Vink said alcohol abuse was a nationwide issue, and not unique to Cromwell.
