STANDING in Proserpine Magistrates Court on Monday, a Jubilee Pocket woman was in tears as the court heard about the night she got behind the wheel of a car while more than six times over the legal alcohol limit.

Lorraine Maree Watson, 45, pleaded guilty to being in charge of a vehicle under the influence of alcohol during a holiday in Airlie Beach the day after Christmas.

Prosecutor Chris Bennett said police patrolling Airlie Beach on December 26 at about 7pm were directed to a vehicle by members of the public who believed a woman had been driving while intoxicated.

Police found Watson parked on Waterson Way behind the wheel with her eyes closed, keys in the ignition and the engine running, the court heard.

Mr Bennett said after being approached by police, Watson was unable to state how much alcohol she had consumed but admitted to drinking vodka.

Upon searching Watson's car, police found an empty wine bottle on the floor of the passenger seat and a vodka bottle on the passenger seat.

Defence solicitor Rosemary Varley said Watson previously lived in Western Australia and was in the region at the time of the incident to visit her son.

Ms Varley said Watson was engaging with medical services to address her alcohol abuse and was now taking medication. She also noted that Watson had been suspended from driving since the date of the incident.

Magistrate Simon Young said Watson's behaviour was at the higher end of offending for "this type of conduct".

"It's almost a miracle you didn't kill yourself or someone else," he said.

"And having been involved in a multi-vehicle accident (in 2009), for you to put other people in harm's way is a disgrace."

Mr Young said he was not satisfied Watson had taken appropriate steps to address her alcohol addiction.

"It's failed in the most spectacular way possible," he said.

"There are a lot of intentions but talk is cheap."

Despite Watson's early plea of guilty, Mr Young said the incident did require a penalty of a "very strong nature".

Mr Young sentenced Watson to three months imprisonment wholly suspended for 12 months and disqualified her from driving for 18 months.

A traffic conviction was recorded.