Some boaters don’t care about safety — yours or theirs. They claim that “getting buzzed” is a big part of what they enjoy about being on the water, and they are entitled to do whatever they want on their own vessel.
Their misplaced idea of fun may land them in jail or a hospital, as operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol or drugs is both against the law and poses a menace to everyone in the vicinity (and themselves).
Alcohol use is the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents where the primary cause was determined by investigators. According to U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Recreational Boating Statistics, alcohol use was the leading factor in 23 percent of deaths in 2019 (an increase from 19 percent the year before).
Strong sun and winds, combined with the vibrations and rolling of a vessel, create “boater’s fatigue,” a condition that mimics the effects of being under the influence in persons who are sober. That’s before alcohol and/or certain legal and illegal drugs blur vision and reduce balance, judgment, and reaction time. A boat pilot under the influence is incapable of making proper decisions and assessing risks, putting everyone in the area in peril.
It is illegal in every state and territory to operate vessels, from kayaks to the largest yachts, while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. As boating while impaired is a choice, not an accident, law enforcement authorities are always looking to rid the waterways of intoxicated boaters.
During Operation Dry Water (ODW), a campaign coordinated with the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators and the USCG, enforcers will heighten public awareness of the perils of boating while impaired. The campaign takes place Friday, July 2 through Sunday, July 4, 2021. Don’t be misled by the word “awareness.” It’s not a euphemism for lectures or warnings — all participating law enforcement agencies will stop and arrest boaters suspected of boating under the influence (BUI).
Police and USCG (as well as local harbor patrols) are on the lookout for signs of intoxication day and night. Checkpoints will be set up without warning and vessels stopped if law enforcement observes possible violations or unsafe piloting. Sobriety tests will be administered as warranted, so a boat going too fast through a no-wake zone might end up with its operator arrested for alleged BUI.
Depending on the jurisdiction, operators arrested and convicted of BUI face the same or similar consequences as driving while intoxicated on land — jail time, loss of operating privileges, and seizure of the vessel. Every arrest triggers the expense of legal defense and a potential loss of wages.
Alcohol also poses a danger to passengers. As discussed previously, boater’s fatigue affects all aboard. If you’re also under the influence, it’s hard to comply with a skipper’s commands and avoid slips and falls.
If you want to enjoy alcohol on the water, drink at the dock and sleep it off on your boat overnight!
More information
https://community.nasbla.org/operationdrywater/home and http://www.uscgboating.org./recreational-boaters/boating-under-the-influence.php
