But that didn’t stop Brendan Peterson from accepting the small, white ecstasy tablet - apparently given to him as a ‘‘gratuity’’ for his upcoming birthday on July 9 - and planning to take it while celebrating with friends.

The drug came to the attention of police after it fell from Peterson’s jacket pocket while he was being investigated for a more serious crime - drink driving.

In Port Kembla Local Court this week, Peterson escaped conviction for drug possession owing to his clean criminal record, however was not so lucky on a mid-range drink driving charge.

The court heard the Mount Warrigal apprentice chef, a P2 licence holder, drank six to eight schooners of Superdry and a can of VB between 5.30pm and 11pm at the North Gong Hotel on June 27 before hoping in the car with a mate and driving.

Police carrying out random breath tests on Flinders Street noticed Peterson disobeying a ‘no right turn’ sign by pulling into Gipps Street and drove after him, stopping his vehicle on Keira Street.

Officers quickly came to the belief that Peterson was affected by alcohol, and their suspicions were affirmed when a roadside breath test came back positive.

The resealable plastic bag containing the ecstasy tablet fell from Peterson’s pocket as he was cleaning out his pockets following his arrest.

A breath analysis at Wollongong Police Station recorded a mid-range reading of 0.96.

In court, Magistrate Michael Stoddart said Peterson didn’t deserve to have a driver’s licence.

‘‘You’re on your p-plates - what don’t you understand about having a zero alcohol limit?’’ he said.

‘‘Your behaviour was thoughtless and selfish; you had another person in the car and you were a risk to them yourself and other road users.’’

Peterson was fined $1200 and disqualified from driving for 10 months.