Celebrate the Fourth with Fireworks, not Firewater

Drinking and boating kill more people during the Fourth of July weekend than any other weekend of the year, according to BoatU.S., the nation's largest organization of recreational boaters. BoatU.S. estimates as many as 60 people will die on the nation's waterways over the four-day July 4th holiday.

"People go boating to forget their cares, but sometimes they also leave their common sense behind," said Ruth Wood, director of the BoatU.S. Foundation. "Drinking while boating can be as dangerous as drinking and driving. Even though there are far less boats on the water than cars on the highway, and most boats are slower than most cars, it's just as important not to mix alcohol and boating as it is to avoid alcohol while driving," she said.

Boaters need to be aware of two specific problems caused by boozing while boating:


First, because of the combination of prolonged exposure to the sun, wind, noise, vibration and boat motion on the water, "boaters fatigue" can slow reaction time almost as much as if a boater were legally drunk. Drinking alcohol makes this "boaters fatigue" much worse, and one beer on the water can affect someone the way three or four beers would on land.

Second, naming a "designated driver" doesn't work well afloat. Studies by the American Medical Association and BoatU.S. Marine Insurance have found that only 20% of the alcohol-related boating deaths are caused by drunk drivers. Almost half the fatalities happen when the vessels are not even underway - either anchored or at the dock. Passengers don't wear seat belts on boats. If they've had too much to drink, they may - among other things -- fall off the boat, stumble into open hatches, or drown while swimming. Passengers need to remain aware of their surroundings and practice the same safety measures as the boat driver.
Like driving while intoxicated, boating while intoxicated is illegal. The U.S. Coast Guard enforces federal law, which sets a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) standard of .10 as legal intoxication. Intoxicated boaters are ten times more likely to be killed in a boating accident than those who are not drinking.

All 50 states and the District of Columbia also have laws against boating while intoxicated. BACs of .10 are enforced in 19 states, while 31 have lowered it to .08 or less. In eight states (Alaska, California, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and New Jersey) people convicted of BUI can also lose their driving licenses.

Posted: 6-28-2000