A man has escaped conviction and kept his drivers' licence after driving a motorised esky to McDonald's while drunk on pineapple vodkas and low-carb beers.

William Kropp, from Rutherford in the Hunter region of New South Wales, had a blood alcohol level three times the legal limit when he drove the 49cc modified cooler bin to a nearby McDonald's drive-through in the early hours of 19 May.

Police, responding to a report of antisocial behaviour at the fast food restaurant, stopped Kropp at the last window.

They found him riding an internet-bought four-wheel vehicle with a 49cc petrol motor and a large esky attached. The vehicle had no lights, indicators or reflectors. Kropp admitted he had been drinking and was taken to Maitland police station after testing positive for alcohol.

At the station he returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.155, reports the Maitland Mercury.

He told police he had consumed 10 alcoholic drinks that day, including low-carb beers and pineapple vodka drinks.

Kropp was charged with high-range drink driving and driving an unregistered vehicle. He was suspended from driving, but had his licence returned to him at court on Wednesday after pleading guilty.

He was given a two-year good behaviour bond without conviction, and must complete driver education programs and submit an assignment on the illegality of types of vehicles bought over the internet.

It's not the first conviction in Australia for a motorised esky, which prove quite popular at some events.

In 2011 Christopher Ian Petrie of Noosa, was fined $500 and had his licence suspended for nine months after being found guilty of driving one under the influence of alcohol.

During sentencing, magistrate John Parker remarked that if Petrie had been riding a horse he would have been been OK.

"Nevertheless you were in a motor vehicle … on a motor vehicle … and there must be a penalty," Parker said.

Inspector Glenn Blaine of Cessnock police station told Guardian Australia the police were called to the restaurant for another matter and just happened across Kropp on his esky.

While he acknowledged that the situation could seem humorous, Blaine said that "any vehicle with a motor that goes onto a public road area can be dangerous" to the person riding it and others.

Blaine said it was the first time the station had come across a motorised esky in a police matter but they were aware that "they do exist in the community".