Alcohol and Boating Don’t Mix

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   Boating
under the influence (BUI) of alcohol is illegal.



   That said, while 76 million people enjoy boating on America’s waterways each year, many are not aware of the very real, life threatening dangers associated with consuming alcohol and boating. To help reduce the incidents of BUI, the United States Coast Guard has initiated a major, nationwide campaign to warn Americans about the dangers of alcohol consumption and boating.

   Alcohol, with its well-known ability to impair performance, creates an even more hazardous situation when added to the stress of the marine environment. This is because the marine environment — the fluid base, motion, vibration, engine noise, and elements of sun, wind and spray — accelerates impairment. The operator’s coordination, judgment, and reaction time are reduced by fatigue caused by these stressors. A boat operator with a blood alcohol concentration above .10 percent is estimated to be more than 10 times as likely to be killed in a boating accident than boat operators with zero blood alcohol concentration. Further, alcohol can be more treacherous for boaters since they are less experienced and less confident on the water than on the highway. Recreational boaters do not have the advantage of experiencing daily operation of a boat.

   Add boating stressors to those usual factors resulting from drinking alcohol, and a truly perilous condition is present. Drinking alcohol produces certain physiological responses that directly affect safety and well-being.

   Because operating a boat under the influence is so dangerous, the Coast Guard is using a threefold approach to reducing alcohol related accidents: Improved law enforcement in cooperation with the states; an improved accident reporting system to identify alcohol-related accidents; and widespread education and public awareness of the dangers of alcohol.

   Throughout the country each year, more than 2,000 safe boating courses are offered by groups such as the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, the U.S. Power Squadrons, and the American Red Cross. For more information on finding a course near you, call the U.S. Coast Guard Infoline at (800) 368-5647. Consider these alternatives to alcohol and boating:

• Take along a variety of sodas, a jug of water, ice tea, or lemonade, or take along non-alcoholic beer

• Take along plenty of food;

• Wear clothes that will keep you cool;

• Plan to limit your trip to the number of hours you can spend on the water without becoming tired;

• Enjoy your outing more by having the party ashore after you dock — in the picnic area, in the Yacht Club, in your backyard — where you’ll have time between the fun and getting back into a boat or your car;

• If you dock somewhere for lunch or dinner and drink alcohol, wait a reasonable time before heading back home;

• If necessary, be sure to have a sober designated driver as the boat operator. Or better yet, in case of emergency, have two designated non-drinking operators.

   No alcohol aboard is the safe way to go — remember, intoxicated passengers can fall overboard too.