Boating and Alcohol
by Scott Eveland
Summer boating season is in full swing. People are taking to the lakes to fish, swim, tube, ski, boat and operate personal watercraft. Unfortunately, some of those folks choose to partake in alcohol before they get behind the helm of their watercraft.
We are all aware of the dangers of drinking and driving a motor vehicle, but how often do we think about the dangers of drinking and boating? Alcohol depresses the central nervous system and affects judgment and slows physical reaction time. Alcohol also makes it difficult to pay attention, especially to multiple tasks. This could become critical during the operation of a motorized vessel, as you are sharing the water with other boats, swimmers, skiers, tubers, and others enjoying the water.
Alcohol impairment increases the likelihood of accidents-for both operators AND passengers. Drunk passengers put themselves and others in the boat at risk as well. Nationwide, alcohol contributes to about one-third of all boating accidents. Nebraska's accidents mirror that national statistic. In 2007, over one-half of the fatality accidents were alcohol related.
The effect of alcohol is increased by the natural stressors placed on your body while boating. The dehydration of your body causes alcohol to be absorbed more quickly into your system. In fact, research has shown that one-third of the amount of alcohol that it takes to makes a person legally intoxicated on land can make a boater equally intoxicated on the water.
Nebraska has a Boating Under the Influence (BUI) law, that is almost identical to the state's DUI law for motor vehicles. It is illegal to operate a motorized vessel if your BAC exceeds ".08" or if you are impaired (which can include impairment by other substances). You can be arrested for BUI if you are found to be operating a motorized vessel while over the limit or otherwise impaired. You can also be arrested for refusing to submit to the required tests, just like in a motor vehicle.
In addition, it is illegal to have an open container of alcohol inside state parks and recreation areas, and it is illegal to consume alcohol on any public property in the state of Nebraska, so it is not legal to consume alcohol on most waterways anyway. Save the alcohol for home or camp (if allowed) at the end of your day on the lake.
To borrow a line from one of our popular boating safety videos, Boating the Starboard Way: "The water is the true judge and jury."
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