A student "put lives at risk" when he crashed into a tree on a rural Northumberland road after downing whiskey.
Owen Sanger had been to Hexham to buy a bottle of booze and was travelling back to his home in Slaley when he decided to stop.
A court heard that the 23-year-old sat on a bench and drank some of the spirit before betting back behind the wheel to continue his journey.
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However, his erratic driving soon came to the attention of another motorist, who noticed Sanger's Citroen "weaving across the road" before ploughing into a tree.
Newcastle Magistrates' Court was told that Sanger's car was left blocking the carriageway and the witness called the police.
The Bristol University student, of Pinetops, in Slaley, Northumberland, failed a roadside breath test and later gave a reading of 113mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, when the legal limit is just 35.
And now, Sanger has been given a 12-month community order, with 80 hours of unpaid work, and has been banned from the roads for 26 months after he pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.
District Judge Kate Meek told him: "You're extremely fortunate you, or nobody else, was caused significant injury, or worse, because that reading means you were not in control of the vehicle and you would not be able to react if someone had walked out in front of you."
The court heard that the witness was travelling along a minor road between Whitley Chapel and Slaley at around 5.45pm on October 18 this year.
He was behind Sanger's Citroen, which was "weaving" from side to side and kept hitting the verge.
Mrs Haque added: "The witness phoned the police and was on the phone to the control room when the driver of the Citroen crashed into a tree and spun sideways, blocking the road.
"He stayed with the driver until police attended."
The court was told that officers noticed that Sanger, who was uninjured, was slurring his words and smelled of alcohol, so performed the roadside breath test.
In interview, Sanger said he'd been driving home from Leeds and had stopped at Hexham to buy a bottle of whiskey.
He then pulled over to drink some before getting back behind the wheel to continue his journey.
Jonathan Cousins, defending, said Sanger had no past convictions and was a young man who had acted "very, very stupidly".
He added: "Mr Sanger has now sought assistance with his alcohol consumption. He realises he came very close to something more serious and is hoping to put this behind him."
Sanger was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £95 victim surcharge.
