Former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett has been criticised for telling radio listeners they can avoid detection for drink-driving by eating Kool Mints.

Mr Kennett claims he has been able to mask his alcohol intake on several occasions by eating the mints.

This has angered police and drug and alcohol education groups, who have condemned the comments.

Mr Kennett told Fairfax Radio drink drivers will feel like a "new person" if they take the mints after drinking too much.

"You should always carry some in your car," he said.

"If you have had a couple of drinks and you want to absorb the alcohol quickly, Kool Mints will do it.

"I would very rarely drink and drive, but if I've had anything at all to drink I will reach into my little pocket.

"To everyone out there I can only suggest if you're ever stupid enough to drink and drive - there are some who do drink and drive - and I'm just saying even if you have one drink, if you have two drinks, reach into the console of your car and have a couple of Kool Mints - you'll feel a new person."

Victoria's Transport Accident Commission (TAC) says anyone who relies on Kool Mints to lower their blood-alcohol levels is a "bloody idiot!".

TAC spokesman Joe Calafiore says drink driving is not an issue that should be taken lightly.

"The TAC believes anyone who relies on Kool Mints to lower their blood-alcohol content would be a bloody idiot, because it's quite obviously not true," he said.

"Anyone who is relying on mints or tricks or anything like that are not only going to put themselves at risk on the roads, but more importantly they're going to put all other road users at risk, and that's not something to be joked about."

He says rather than keeping a stash of Kool Mints in the car, drivers should plan ahead.

"In the lead-up to the Christmas season people do consume a lot of alcohol at functions and activities, so the best thing to do is plan ahead with car pools or taxis," he said.

"Or if you don't have any transport options then the best thing to do is not drink.

"You certainly shouldn't be relying on any urban myths like the one we heard today."

Mr Calafiore says out of the 290 people killed on Victorian roads last year, 42 had a blood-alcohol limit of more than 0.05.

Paul Dillon from Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia says he finds Mr Kennett's comments astounding.

"This sort of myth is incredibly dangerous and to have someone in Mr Kennett's position reinforce this myth and then reiterate it on air a number of times is incredibly problematic," he said.