Are The “Eating-While-Driving Fines” in Queensland Real, or Just Another Internet Myth?

Even a quick snack behind the wheel can now lead to hefty fines in Queensland, or will it?

Here’s what’s been doing the rounds online:

“New laws in 2025 banning eating, drinking, and vaping while driving.”

“Drivers could be fined up to $1,500 and lose demerit points.”

“Other states are expected to follow with similar bans.”

“P-plate and L-plate drivers could face double penalties.”

The problem? Each version of the story gives different numbers and different penalties, with no clear source to back it up. Some posts say $800 fines, others say $1,500, and a few jump up much more and even throwing in “licence suspension” for good measure.

We looked into it and there’s absolutely no record of any new Queensland legislation that bans eating or drinking while driving. Neither the Queensland Government’s road rules page nor TMR lists any such offence. There’s no mention of it in the official fines schedule released earlier this year, which covered speeding, mobile phones cameras, and seatbelt offences, but nothing about eating or vaping.

7NEWS also fact-checked these claims and confirmed that the “Australia-wide crackdown” stories are false. They appear to have originated from AI-written articles or low-credibility news sites designed to generate ad traffic.

What the Official Sources Say

We looked into it and there’s absolutely no record of any new Queensland legislation that bans eating or drinking while driving.

Neither the Queensland Government’s road rules page nor TMR lists any such offence. There’s no mention of it in the official fines schedule released earlier this year, which covered speeding, mobile phones cameras, and seatbelt offences, but nothing about eating or vaping.

7NEWS also fact-checked these claims and confirmed that the “Australia-wide crackdown” stories are false. They appear to have originated from AI-written articles or low-credibility news sites designed to generate ad traffic.



While there are no new eating-while-driving laws, distracted driving is still illegal and always has been. Under Queensland’s existing legislation, police can issue fines if your driving is unsafe because you’re distracted, which could include eating or drinking in extreme cases.

That’s covered under the broader offence of “driving without due care and attention.” So yes, you could technically be fined if you’re doing something may causes you to lose control, but there’s no blanket ban or fixed fine amount for eating or vaping.

This kind of rumour spreads fast because it feels believable.


It gives a mix of shock, fear, and familiarity. Everyone’s grabbed a coffee or snack while driving at some point, yes even me. Social posts with “official” numbers give it credibility, and the idea of an “Australia-wide law” makes it sound urgent.

Smaller blogs copy and re-post it without checking, and before long, everyone’s convinced it’s real. By the time fact-checks like the one from 7NEWS came out, the story had already gone viral.

So here's the truth:

✅ There’s no new law banning eating, drinking, or vaping while driving.

⚠️ You can still be fined for distracted driving if it causes you to lose control.

🚫 The viral “$1,500 fine” posts are fake and likely written by clickbait sites.

It’s a good reminder to always check official sources before believing a viral headline, especially when it sounds too specific to be true.

The next time you see a post claiming “QLD cracks down on everyday driving habits,” take it with a grain of salt (and maybe keep both hands on the wheel). Queensland’s laws are strict, but not that strict, at least not yet.