A TAMWORTH magistrate said she's giving out community service and hefty fines for drink drivers, warning drivers need to "give something back" or they face jail.

Magistrate Julie Soars said she was fed up with the long list of drink drivers turning up in court week-in, week-out in Tamworth.

"It's as if there's never been an education program ... to say you cannot drive with high levels of alcohol in your system," she said.

"The number of them are not decreasing."

Visibly fed up with another day of drink drivers in Tamworth Local Court, Ms Soars said the problem was getting worse and needed to hit drivers where it hurts.

"There has to be some aspect of general deterrence ... as to why people shouldn't drink and drive," she said in sentencing, warning that community service or a fine wo

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