No. In the Taipei Metro (Taipei MRT) system, the yellow demarcation line in front of station fare gates marks the boundary; inside this yellow line is the designated non-eating and non-drinking area, where eating and drinking—including drinking plain water or mineral water—is strictly prohibited regardless of age or reason. Violators are fined NT$1,500 to NT$7,500 under Article 50, paragraph 1, item 9 of the Mass Rapid Transit Act (大眾捷運法); according to Taipei City Government penalty standards, general eating, drinking, or chewing gum/betel nut carries a fine of NT$1,500, causing environmental pollution incurs NT$4,500, and causing train delays of 10 minutes or more or accidents results in a fine of NT$7,500.
Reminder: For drinking water, taking medication, or infant feeding due to illness, physical discomfort, or baby needs, Taipei Metro advises approaching station staff for assistance; breastfeeding is legally protected under the Public Breastfeeding Act and is excluded from the ban. Actual regulations are subject to the latest announcements by Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation.
Scope of Non-Eating and Non-Drinking Areas: Check Yellow Lines
Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation FAQs (updated October 2, 2026 / ROC year 115) clarify that the non-eating and non-drinking area boundary is defined by the yellow demarcation lines in front of fare gates at each station; inside the yellow lines is the non-eating and non-drinking area. Bilingual notices in Chinese and English are posted in paid concourses, platforms, and train cars.
| Area | Can You Eat or Drink? | Details |
|---|
| Concourse outside station entrances up to yellow lines before gates | Not within restricted area | Spitting or littering remains prohibited (latter half of Article 50, paragraph 1, item 9 is not restricted to dining zones) |
| Inside yellow lines before fare gates (even before tapping card) | Prohibited | The yellow line is the exact boundary; crossing it means entering the restricted dining ban zone |
| Paid concourse area and platforms | Prohibited | Includes plain water, mineral water, chewing gum, and betel nut |
| Train carriages | Prohibited | Same as above |
Be careful not to confuse two different yellow lines: the yellow line on the floor before fare gates marks the boundary of the non-eating and non-drinking area; the yellow caution line along platform edges is a safety waiting line. Horseplay or crossing the platform safety line after warnings is a separate violation under Article 50, paragraph 1, item 14, carrying an identical fine range of NT$1,500 to NT$7,500.
How Much Are Fines: Taipei City Penalty Criteria
Article 50, paragraph 1, item 9 of the Mass Rapid Transit Act provides that eating, drinking, chewing gum or betel nut in designated restricted areas, spitting phlegm, betel nut juice/residue, or discarding litter, cigarette butts, or waste incurs a fine of NT$1,500 to NT$7,500. Under Taipei City Government penalty benchmarks (effective December 20, 2024 / ROC year 113), penalties are graduated as follows:
| Violation Conduct | Fine Amount |
|---|
| Eating or drinking inside non-eating and non-drinking areas | NT$1,500 |
| Chewing gum or betel nut inside non-eating and non-drinking areas | NT$1,500 |
| Spitting phlegm, betel nut juice, residue or littering without causing train delays or delay under 5 minutes | NT$1,500 |
| Eating, drinking, or chewing gum/betel nut in restricted area causing environmental filth | NT$4,500 |
| Spitting or littering polluting environment or delaying trains by 5 minutes to under 10 minutes | NT$4,500 |
| Any above conduct causing train delays of 10 minutes or more or causing traffic accidents | NT$7,500 |
The criteria also incorporate Administrative Penalty Act rules: children under 14 are not penalized; persons aged 14 to under 18 may receive reduced penalties; and because the Mass Rapid Transit Act has no statutory maximum fine under NT$3,000, Article 19 minor offense exemptions do not apply. In special circumstances, penalties may be increased or decreased within the statutory NT$1,500 to NT$7,500 range, provided reasons are justified in the disposition notice.
Enforcement Authorities and Consequences of Non-Payment
- Enforcement: Under Article 52 of the Mass Rapid Transit Act, fines are imposed by the local competent authority, which may delegate operational entities. According to Point 5 of Taipei standards, penalties are executed on-site by the Rapid Transit Division of Taipei City Police Department or delegated Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation staff, issuing penalty tickets immediately.
- Refusal of service: If an offender refuses to accept the ticket on site, service is completed pursuant to service rules of the Administrative Procedure Act.
- Overdue penalties: Overdue fines are prompted by Taipei Metro; continuing failure to pay leads to compulsory execution under the Administrative Execution Act.
- Ejection from station: Under Article 50, paragraph 2, station and train personnel accompanied by police may forcibly escort offenders out of stations or trains without refunding unused fares.
Exceptions: Illness, Infant Needs, and Breastfeeding
| Circumstance | Taipei Metro Explanation and Statutory Rules |
|---|
| Illness or physical discomfort requiring water or medication (e.g., hypoglycemia) | Contact station service personnel for assistance (Taipei Metro FAQs) |
| Infant feeding requirements | Contact station service personnel for assistance (Taipei Metro FAQs) |
| Breastfeeding (direct nursing or feeding expressed breast milk) | Explicitly protected under the Public Breastfeeding Act; Taipei Metro clarifies it is not prohibited; Article 4 forbids barring, ejecting, or impeding nursing, with Article 8 imposing fines of NT$6,000 to NT$30,000 for violators |
| Children under 14 years old | Exempt from administrative penalties under Article 9, paragraph 1 of the Administrative Penalty Act, but dining restrictions still apply |
Editorial recommendation: If experiencing sudden discomfort, inform station personnel at the information counter for assistance rather than consuming food or water unassisted inside carriages; in emergency conditions, seek immediate staff help.
Beyond eating and drinking, Article 50, paragraph 1 imposes identical fine ranges for: bringing animals into station areas or carriages without permission, lying across seats after warnings, or lingering around entrances or fare gates obstructing traffic. Taipei Metro passenger regulations also prohibit smoking and using roller skates, skateboards, or kickboards.
Are New Taipei and Airport MRT the Same?
The Mass Rapid Transit Act is a nationwide statute, and Article 50, paragraph 1, item 9 applies across all MRT systems. Lines operated by New Taipei Metro Corporation likewise ban eating and drinking in restricted areas; however, specific zoning and penalty schedules are determined separately by the New Taipei City Government, and travelers should consult New Taipei Metro announcements. The Taoyuan Airport MRT is operated by Taoyuan Metro Corporation; for fares and schedules, see Airport MRT fare and travel time from Taipei Main Station. For transit card balances and refunds, refer to EasyCard refund, balance check and loss reporting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drink water on the Taipei MRT?
No. Taipei Metro rules state that eating and drinking in restricted areas is strictly prohibited, including plain water and mineral water. If medical or physical discomfort requires water or medication, contact station staff for assistance.
How much is the fine for eating on the MRT?
The statutory range under Article 50, paragraph 1, item 9 is NT$1,500 to NT$7,500. Taipei City penalty criteria set fines at NT$1,500 for general eating/drinking, NT$4,500 for causing filth, and NT$7,500 for causing train delays of 10 minutes or more or accidents.
Can I drink a beverage before swiping my card at the fare gates?
It depends on whether you have crossed the yellow demarcation line. Taipei Metro designates the area inside the yellow line as restricted, even before swiping transit cards; concourses outside the line are unrestricted.
Can I chew gum on the MRT?
No. Chewing gum or betel nut is explicitly prohibited in restricted areas, carrying an NT$1,500 fine under Taipei penalty benchmarks; spitting gum also incurs fines.
Are children fined for drinking milk on the MRT?
Breastfeeding is legally protected under the Public Breastfeeding Act. For other infant feeding, contact staff for assistance. Children under 14 are exempt from administrative penalties under the Administrative Penalty Act.
Last updated: 2026-11-01
This article was compiled by SOSfix editors from public information for general reference only; for individual inquiries, contact Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation or the Department of Transportation, Taipei City Government.
Sources
- National laws and regulations database: Mass Rapid Transit Act (amended January 14, 2026; Article 50 last amended June 5, 2013 / ROC year 102, verified 2026-11-01) (in Chinese): Article 50 paragraph 1 items 9 and 14 prohibited acts and fines of NT$1,500 to NT$7,500, paragraph 2 compulsory ejection without refund, Article 52 local authority enforcement and operational delegation.
- Taipei City law search system: Taipei City Government penalty benchmarks for handling violations of Articles 50 and 50-1 of the Mass Rapid Transit Act (amended December 4, 2024 / ROC year 113, effective December 20, 2024, verified 2026-11-01) (in Chinese): item 9 graduated fines of NT$1,500, NT$4,500, NT$7,500; Administrative Penalty Act exemptions, mitigation, Article 19 exclusion; Point 5 police/MRT execution, delivery, collection, compulsory enforcement; Point 6 special mitigating factors.
- Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation: FAQ "What are the rules and scope of prohibited eating and drinking in the MRT system?" (updated October 2, 2026 / ROC year 115, verified 2026-11-01) (in Chinese): boundary defined by yellow line before gates, inclusion of water, illness/infant assistance by staff, breastfeeding exclusion, bilingual signage.
- Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation: Taipei Metro passenger regulations (amended February 26, 2026 / ROC year 115, verified 2026-11-01) (in Chinese): paid area definitions, smoking and skateboard bans, reprinting Mass Rapid Transit Act Articles 50 and 50-1.
- National laws and regulations database: Public Breastfeeding Act (amended April 24, 2019 / ROC year 108, verified 2026-11-01) (in Chinese): Article 3 breastfeeding definitions, Article 4 prohibition against barring/ejecting, Article 8 fines of NT$6,000 to NT$30,000.
