A Tauranga taxi company isn't ruling out expanding its staff and fleet numbers after an influx of people safely opting for a cab home under new breath alcohol limits.

Tauranga Mount Taxis report that the first weekend of new breath alcohol laws was 'incredibly busy” with pub goers reluctant to test out the new laws.

Tauranga Mount Taxis had a busy weekend following the introduction of the new breath alcohol limits.

Tauranga Mount Taxis operations manager Jacqui Coffey says the company doesn't have exact figures, but anecdotally the company coped with the surge in taxi popularity, with both its 50 drivers and 40 call-centre staff constantly busy.

'It's always busier at this time of year but the staff said last week was ‘wow' busy,” she says.

Since December 1 the breath alcohol limit was reduced from 400mcg to 250mcg of alcohol per litre of breath for drivers over 20. The limit for those under 20 stayed at zero.

The blood alcohol limit- reducing from 80mg to 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood - will bring New Zealand in line with the rest of the world.

Drivers caught between 251 and 400mcg will receive an instant $200 fine, 50 demerit points and a ban from driving for 12 hours, but it will not result in a criminal conviction.

In the first week four motorists were caught and fined by Western Bay of Plenty Police for being over the new limits – all blowing in the range of 300mcg of alcohol per litre of breath.

Jacqui says the company is yet to fully investigate the need to increase its size given the apparently higher popularity in taxis, but it is on their radar.

'At some point I suppose we will have to look into it,” she says. 'The board at this stage haven't discussed that likelihood, but yes if it does continue then they will have to [extend the fleet].

'People will think twice when drinking. It's pretty much two and half glasses of wine for a female and they are over the limit. It's pretty scary really and it's not worth it.”

Tauranga's Crown and Badger Pub duty manager Michael Stephens hasn't noticed a decline in patronage, but admits there is a level of uncertainty around definitive alcohol levels.

'People seem to be a bit nervous about it all,” says Michael. 'Everyone is just unsure and they want to know what they are allowed.

'Everyone wants a definitive number of what they can drink and we can't give that.”