The University of Adelaide says it will implement a new responsible alcohol policy after a student pub crawl got out of hand in Adelaide's CBD.

Thousands of students from the engineering department ran onto the road at the intersection of Pulteney and Rundle Streets on Friday night as the lights turned red.

At least one participant jumped on to the bonnet of a car.

The students wore shirts carrying the phrase 'Boozing Bad', a reference to a US television show in which a chemistry teacher manufactures illicit drugs.

A spokeswoman for the university says Vice-Chancellor Professor Warren Bebbington has met student representatives about the incident.

She says the university will bring in a new alcohol policy for student clubs.