AS SEEN IN THE JULY/AUGUST 2005 ISSUE 

What goes better with sunny summer weather than spending time on the water having fun fishing, water skiing, or just plain relaxing? For some, a day on the water doing what they love is all it takes to have an enjoyable time. For others, alcohol is the key ingredient for fun. Unfortunately, mixing alcohol and boating is all too often a recipe for disaster, rather than a recipe for relaxation.

 With the boating season in full swing across the country, the Coast Guard Auxiliary wants to remind boaters that water makes a poor chaser – so don’t drink and boat!

As more states adopt strict boating-under-the-influence (BUI) laws that mirror stepped-up alcohol enforcement on the roads, boaters operating under the influence are coming under increasing scrutiny. Venturing out on the water after drinking can be very hazardous, and may even†be fatal. In fact, according to U.S. Coast Guard national statistics, alcohol is recognized as a major factor in as many as 50 percent of all recreational boating fatalities.†The U.S. Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety estimated that alcohol was involved in 82 percent of reported boating fatalities for 2003 in Florida, compared to only 34 percent on a national level.  ††

A Coast Guard study showed that boat operators with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) above 0.10 percent are 10 times more likely to be killed in a boating accident than operators with zero blood alcohol concentrations, according to U.S. Coast Guard Boating Statistics.

No matter what activity boaters are pursuing, alcohol affects balance, vision, coordination and judgment.†Furthermore, a combination of stressors like wind, sun, noise, motion and vibration can magnify the effects of alcohol and even accelerate impairment. While it may seem harmless to drink and operate a boat, consider the results of previous studies which indicate that the effects of alcohol are magnified, as much as three times, because of these “natural” stressors. Thus, if it would take three drinks within a two hour period to result in a BAC of .08, it may take only one or two to do so on a boat! Sobering thoughts you would think. But for many recreational boaters, this doesn’t seem to be the case.




BUI and the Law

Unfortunately, drinking has been a way of life for boaters since yachting and sailing became a past-time centuries ago. So too was drinking and driving, until we as a society got ‘MADD’ and put the brakes on the disturbing trend, if not to the acceptability of the concept altogether.
Today, drinking and driving on America’s roads carries severe penalties ranging from license suspensions to fines and probation all the way up to a decade or more in prison if someone is killed in an automobile accident involving alcohol. Although the penalties for BUI have not yet risen to the same degrees of severity in most areas of the country, many state and federal agencies are currently reviewing and rewriting their policies regarding boating under the influence. In fact, some states have recently adopted legislation that says an individual’s drivers license can be suspended if he or she is caught operating a boat under the influence of alcohol.

The Sobering Truth
††††    
        Most boaters think of collisions as the greatest threat when drinking on the water.†Yet, according to the BOAT/U.S. Foundation for Boating Safety research, an estimated 75 percent of alcohol-related boating accidents and injuries do not involve collisions.†In fact, the likelihood of falls onboard, falls overboard and missteps at the dock are much more common when drinking afloat. No matter how warm the water is, falling overboard when boating can lead to the onset of hypothermia, a systemic loss of body heat which can eventually leading to a central nervous system shut down. As if falling into cold water isn’t bad enough, alcohol further increases the onset of hypothermia by impairing the body’s natural ability to maintain homeostasis during stressful situations. All important things to remember when considering bringing alcohol on board for a day of pleasure boating. 

Think Before You Drink

††††††††††    † Boating-under-the-Influence has become one of the biggest issues facing the U.S. Coast Guard today. Get caught drinking, and your pleasant day on the water could quickly turn into months and perhaps years of heartache. So how do you enjoy your time on the water, and drink? That’s easy. Use the same common sense you use when you’re on land. If you want to indulge in alcoholic beverages while boating, there are few things you can do to ensure your safety and that of your passengers.
First, designate a non-drinking pilot. Second, if you do decide to drink and are unsure whether you are able to navigate safely, don’t move the boat. Anchor and stay where you are until you have sobered up enough to safely return your vessel to port. Even better, skip the alcohol, enjoy your day on the water and wait until you get home to have a few drinks.
†††††††††† † The U.S. Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary want you to enjoy a SAFE boating experience. Safety begins with being sober, wearing your life jacket, and having a properly equipped boat. If you’re not sure whether your boat has all the necessary safety equipment, ask for a free Vessel Safety Check [VSC] courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.
 
Have a safe and sober boating season!

-USCGAUX –

Photos of BUI are available at http://www.uscgboating.org/command/resource/photos/photos.htm
(Search for BUI photos).

A table depicting blood alcohol impacts is available at:  http://www.uscgboating.org/command/initiative/bui.htm#c

Ed Sweeney
Deputy Chief- National Department of Public Affairs
District Staff Officer-Marine Safety, District 11 Northern region


Ed Sweeney is a member of Gold Country Flotilla 33 (Roseville CA), United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, and District 11 Northern Region (which covers Northern CA, NV, and UT). Ed has been boating since the age of eleven, while growing up in New England.  He currently serves as District Staff Officer-Marien Safety for District 11 Northern Region, in additional to serving on the deputy Department Chief – national Department of Public Affairs. 

His Coast Guard qualifications include the TRIDENT device (M pro Pin), coxswain (small boat commander), vessel examiner, instructor, marine visitor, watchstander, and Ferry Inspector.  He has a love for boating and the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and recently received a Letter of Commendation from the National Water Safety Congress, and received the Distinguished Public Service Award for 2004 from the CA department of boating and Waterways.  He also received a Recreational Boating Safety Award of Excellence in 2002 for the Pacific Region from the U.S. Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety.  His other awards include the Auxiliary Meritorious Service Award, Auxiliary Commendation Award (twice), Auxiliary Achievement Award, Coast Guard Unit Commendation (3 times) and Meritorious Team Commendation, as well as numerous other Auxiliary awards. 


APPROXIMATE BLOOD ALCOHOL PERCENTAGE
Drinks    Body Weight in Pounds    Influenced
†    100    120    140    160    180    200    220    240    †
1    0.04    0.04    0.03    0.03    0.02    0.02    0.02    0.02    RARELY
2    0.09*   0.07*   0.06*  0.06*  0.05*    0.04    0.04   0.04    †
3    0.13    0.11    0.09*   0.08*  0.07*   0.07*   0.06*  0.06*    †
4    0.18    0.15    0.13    0.11    0.1      0.09*   0.08*  0.07*    POSSIBLY*
5    0.22    0.18    0.16    0.14    0.12    0.11    0.1      0.09*    †
6    0.26    0.22    0.19    0.17    0.15    0.13    0.12    0.11    †
7    0.31    0.26    0.22    0.19    0.17    0.15    0.14    0.13    DEFINITELY
8    0.35    0.29    0.25    0.22    0.2      0.18    0.16    0.15    †
9    0.4      0.33    0.28    0.25    0.22    0.2     0.18    0.17    †
10  0.44    0.37    0.31    0.28    0.24    0.22    0.2     0.18    †

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