Boater and Alcohol

Every boater needs to understand the risks of boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs (BUI). It is illegal to operate a boat while under the influence of alcohol or drugs in every state. The Coast Guard also enforces a federal law that prohibits BUI. This law pertains to ALL boats (from canoes and rowboats to the largest ships) — and includes foreign vessels that operate in U.S. waters, as well as U.S. vessels on the high seas.

The affects of even a small amount of alcohol are exaggerated by bouncing on the water, sunshine and heat, and wind. A person usually unaffected by a small amount of alcohol can be significantly affected while boating.

The dangers of dying in the water from hypothermia are increased by use of alcohol...primarily because it's the alcohol that gets you into the cold water in the first place.

Most boating fatalities are from capsizing and falls overboard. And most falls overboard are caused by alcohol use.

Alcohol affects judgment, vision, balance and coordination. These impairments increase the likelihood of accidents afloat – for both passengers and boat operators.

Alcohol is even more hazardous on the water than on land. The marine environment – motion, vibration, engine noise, sun, wind and spray – accelerates a drinker's impairment. These stressors cause fatigue that makes a boat operator's coordination, judgment and reaction time decline even faster when using alcohol.

Alcohol can also be more dangerous to boaters because boat operators are often less experienced and less confident on the water than on the highway. Recreational boaters don't have the benefit of experiencing daily boat operation. In fact, boaters average only 110 hours on the water per year.