Is it legal to drink alcohol while boating or using a personal watercraft? While it isn’t illegal to drink alcohol on a boat, it is against the law to operate a vessel while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs. The blood alcohol limit for boating is the same as that for driving a car – 0.08%. If you are convicted of Boating Under the Influence (BUI), the Department of Motor Vehicles may suspend or revoke your vehicle driver’s license for up to five years and you may be fined up to $1,000. More importantly, alcohol consumption by the vessel operator or passengers is a factor in approximately 25% of all fatal motorboat accidents in California.

Drinking and boating can be just as dangerous, if not more so, than drinking and driving: The changes to Colorado’s Boating Under the Influence (BUI) law has taken effect! On August 5th, 2008, Colorado’s law on Boating Under the Influence (BUI) was greatly strengthened as the changes from the 2008 legislative session went into effect.

These changes include:

• Eliminating the distinction that only operators of motor boats or sailboats can be arrested for being under the influence of alcohol, drugs or controlled substances. Now any person operating or in physical control of ANY vessel can be arrested. That includes watercraft operated by motor, wind, paddle and oar; such as jet skis, sailboats, motorboats, kayaks, canoes and rafts.
• Reduced the limit on the Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) at which person operating a vessel are considered under the influence from .10 to .08, making it consistent with the limit for motor vehicle operators on Colorado roadways.

Drinking and boating can be just as dangerous, if not more so, than drinking and driving. This is because in addition to the negative affects on judgment, vision, balance, coordination and reaction times associated with alcohol consumption, water creates an even more hazardous environment due to the: motion of the boat and waves, wake and current; vibration of the boat; noise from motors; sun; glare; wind; and spray. Also keep in mind that boats are a lot different from vehicles since they steer from the rear, they have no brakes and there is no designated lanes or traffic control devices.

Whatever you decide to do for fun this summer, please remember to be safe and don’t booze & boat!