A man who allowed a seven-year-old child drive a car on Queensland's Gold Coast has been sentenced to two years' probation.

Peter John Sivewright, 42, from northern New South Wales, pleaded guilty to the dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and being under the influence of liquor on June 21 this year.

Police stopped a car driving without headlights on the Surfers Paradise Esplanade around 3:00am (AEST).

Sivewright was in the passenger seat and the child was behind the wheel.

A subsequent blood alcohol test found Sivewright had a reading of 0.205 per cent.

The magistrate at the Southport court said if it were not for psychologist's report showing Sivewright had spiralled into alcoholism after the death of his wife, both parents, grandparents, and several close friends, he would be imposing a jail sentence.

Sivewright has been disqualified from driving for 21 months.

Outside the court Sivewright's lawyer, Vince Boss, said it was a fair penalty.

"It's something that we can't judge what we would do if we were placed in the situation that Mr Sivewright was in, so I think it is a good income outcome rather in balancing out the needs of the individual as opposed to the needs of the community," he said.

"It's ensuring that with Mr Sivewright that he will continue to do the current programs that he is currently on."