As part of a new ring-fencing strategy to nab drink drivers, police set up roadblocks on four streets around the Outram and Havelock areas.

The blitz, the first of its kind, netted 20 drivers out of 117 tested.

The five roadblocks were set up simultaneously at Havelock Road, Outram Road, Ganges Avenue and Zion Road, which formed a loose ring around at least six nightspots.

They included popular nightclub Zouk, and karaoke lounges such as Tiananmen KTV at the Furama Riverfront Hotel and Lido Palace at the Holiday Inn Atrium Hotel.

The police hope to curb an alarming rise in drink driving with their new strategy. The number of drink drivers caught last year increased by 7 per cent to 4,009 - the highest figure in 10 years.

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Yesterday's roadblocks went up at 3am, and within 31/2 hours, police had nabbed 20 suspected drink drivers, 17 of them men.

The Straits Times observed six arrests during a two-hour tour of all five roadblocks. The drivers looked to be in their 20s and 30s, and all had at least one passenger with them.

Most covered their faces and refused to talk when approached by the media as they waited to be escorted away.

One 20-something male driver nervously kissed his girlfriend goodbye before being led to a police car.

A female driver who was stopped at one of the Outram roadblocks claimed she had 'not really' been drinking while playing mahjong at a friend's place earlier.

But her breathalyser result was over the limit, and she was arrested.

There were also drivers seen trying to dodge the roadblocks.

At the junction of Kim Seng Road and Havelock Road, The Straits Times spotted a Porsche Carrera S running a red light as it slowly turned left into Havelock Road.

But the driver slammed on the brakes once he spotted the telltale flashing lights of the roadblock ahead. He then reversed back to the traffic light and went straight instead - into the arms of the police at Outram Road.

Anticipating that drivers would try to avoid the roadblocks by taking slip roads or hiding in carparks, the police stationed men up to 150m ahead of each barrier.

Zouk marketing manager Tracy Phillips said the club did its bit to get drunk patrons off the road. They were allowed to leave their vehicles at its carpark at no extra charge.

Tipsy clubbers could also get one of the club's valets to drive them home for a nominal tip.

About 30 clubbers use these services per night, said Ms Phillips. 'We get our security guys to look out for people who are tipsy or too drunk to drive and advise them to take a taxi instead.'

Besides the ring-fencing, police also set up another five roadblocks around the island between 12.30am and 6.30am.

An additional nine suspected drink drivers were arrested in those checks. Their ages ranged from 20 to 45.

According to police, the highest breathalyser result of the night was 84 micrograms of alcohol per 100 ml of breath - more than twice the legal limit of 35 micrograms.

First-time offenders can be fined between $1,000 and $5,000, or jailed up to six months.

In all, over the Chinese New Year festive period, 90 drink drivers were caught.

twong@sph.com.sg

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY LEE PEI QI AND AMY TAN