Mr Scipione was so annoyed by the volume of alcohol-related issues police had to deal with last weekend he released a statement on Monday urging revellers to enjoy themselves this summer, but sensibly.

The Commissioner, who is a teetotaller and campaigner against alcohol abuse, said he was "appalled" and "frightened" by the number of drink-related fatalities, severe injuries and property damage, including numerous assaults, sexual assaults, a drowning, a man hit by a train, a fall from rocks and fire damage.

“Despite all our warnings and messages, we are still seeing people abusing alcohol and injuring themselves or harming others,” Mr Scipione said.

“Most of the incidents over the weekend could have been avoided had people exercised restraint and used better judgment. Make no mistake, alcohol affects your ability to assess risks, make decisions and behave responsibly.”

Mr Scipione said it was time for people to take responsibility for their own actions.

“We don't have a problem with people enjoying themselves and having a few drinks, but the level of intoxication that we are seeing out there on a nightly basis is frightening,” he said.

The NSW Police Force has numerous operations planned throughout the next months targeting alcohol-related violence and anti-social behaviour. Only last week they announced their plans for 1 million random breath tests over summer.

An Australian Institute of Criminology 2009 report found that conservative estimates suggest that in 2004–05, the total costs attributable to alcohol-related crime in Australia was $1.7 billion.

"The harm associated with the consumption of alcohol, particularly among young people, is an area of growing concern within the Australian community and presents a major challenge to all levels of government," it stated.

Police listed a number of alcohol related incidents from the weekend:

* A train collided with a 24-year-old man sitting on the edge of a platform at Coledale Railway Station about 1.25am on Sunday. He suffered severe head and chest injuries and is in a critical condition.

* A 32-year-old man was arrested and charged after allegedly striking his 33-year-old partner in the head with a beer bottle at Collarenebri about 5pm on Friday.

* A 25-year-old man was arrested and charged after allegedly lighting a fire in a train carriage while travelling near Westmead about 8.30pm on Friday.

* A 28-year-old man was assaulted in Kings Cross, resulting in a broken jaw and other facial injuries about 5am on Saturday.

* A 48-year-old man drowned in the Nepean River about 4.30pm on Saturday. It is believed he had been drinking prior to the swim.

* A 21-year-old man suffered life-threatening injuries following an assault in Wagga Wagga about 5.45pm on Saturday, where he fell backward and hit his head on the footpath.

* A 52-year-old man was arrested and charged at Metford after allegedly making a series of abusive and threatening phone calls on Saturday evening.

* A 30-year-old man hit his head on the footpath during an alleged assault at Glen Innes about 1.10am on Sunday. He was flown to John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition. A 25-year-old man was later arrested and charged in relation to the alleged incident.