Australian woman charged with riding horse to off-licence while four times over alcohol limit

'Police want to remind the public that drink-driving does not just mean a vehicle, it can include a horse'

An Australian woman was arrested after riding a horse to an off-licence while four times over the legal alcohol limit.

The 51-year-old rode past the shop’s drive-through counter and “appeared heavily intoxicated”, Queensland police said.

Officers were called by staff when the woman refused to leave the off-licence in Logan, south of Brisbane, at about 11.30pm on Monday night.

They arrested the woman and took her and the horse to a police station, where she was breathalysed. She returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.226 – four-and-a-half times over the limit.

The woman was charged with being in charge of a horse whilst under the influence of alcohol.

“Police want to remind the public that drink-driving does not just mean a vehicle, it can include a horse,” a force spokesman said.

A video released by Queensland police showed the woman appearing to stagger slightly after she climbed out of the saddle.

Council workers and police later helped her to return the horse to its stable.

The woman will appear at Beenleigh Magistrates Court on 26 June.