Working for over 10 years in the city's busiest nightspots, he began to realise vast numbers of Canberrans were driving out, drinking too much, and deciding to drive home because they either couldn't find, or couldn't afford, a cab.

That problem soon turned into a lucrative opportunity.

Mr Hill, now a courier driver, teamed up with mechanic Robert Morley to create the capital's first ''dial-a-desi'' (designated driver) service.

The operation works by driving the customer home in the customer's car.

The pair will receive a call, drive out to find the customer, pick up their car, and then drive them home.

''For me, working nights, I know that people can't get their car home, and they don't want to leave it there,'' Mr Hill said.

''People will pay money to get them and their car home, and that's where we came up with the idea.''

The business differentiates itself from a taxi service, and the government regulator, overseen by the Justice and Community Safety Directorate, says the pair is not breaching any taxi regulations.

Dial-a-desi has been operating for about five months and has been gaining popularity among party-goers.

And Mr Hill said they rarely experience the problems drunks give taxi drivers, like refusing to pay.

''They could do a runner, but in the end we're driving their car,'' he laughed.