A motorist banned for five years for being drunk on the motorway got his licence back early so he can visit distilleries.
Ian Brewster was banned in 2010 after he was caught driving on a busy motorway while he was nearly four times over the legal alcohol limit.
Brewster already had a previous conviction for drink driving in 1997 but on Tuesday he was given the chance to have his driving licence restored after just 41 months.
Perth Sheriff Court was told that Brewster worked in a job where he had to travel to whisky production centres across Scotland to work on their stills.
Solicitor Alastair McLeod said: “The difficulty is that he would previously have got a lift from a colleague but that colleague has now retired.
“He resides in Dunfermline and requires to get a bus at 5.50am which takes him to Dunfermline town centre. He then gets a second bus to Alloa and there is a mile walk at each end.
“That is achievable but the difficulty will arise now when we are coming into the season he is required to attend distilleries to make various works on the stills.
“Given his particular work circumstances, and the fact he is a valued and experienced employee, I would ask the court to grant his application.”
Sheriff Fiona Tait said: “His role requires him now to travel across Scotland working in different distilleries and that involves unsociable hours.
“Having given careful consideration to everything said on your behalf, and that your employment may be under threat if your licence is not restored, I will grant the petition.”
In 2010, Brewster admitted tackling his hangover from the previous night’s binge by downing a couple of pints before setting off during lunchtime traffic.
The same court was told that Brewster, 52, was found to have glazed eyes when he was pulled over by the police, and was slurring his speech.
Solicitor Jamie Baxter, defending, said Brewster had been working at the time but had struggled with an alcohol problem.