Can passengers consume alcohol?

[brick75]

Re: Can passengers consume alcohol?

Thanks for all the great feedback. I figured it would probably be a location specific regulation, but it sounds like most people don't get hassled if they aren't causing problems. I would definitely not let things get out of hand as I wouldn't want to have to fish some drunk fool out of the drink that fell overboard. But it doesn't seem like passengers consuming in moderation is should be much of an issue. Going to check directly with the local LEO's though just to be safe.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Can passengers consume alcohol?

On a related note, peeing over the side is a "sex crime" in Florida, for which you will forever be branded a "sex offender" and have to register as same, etc etc. Seriously. The law has run amok.

So if you are drinking beers on the boat there, remember: you are not as invisible as you think!

 

[180Fisherman]

Re: Can passengers consume alcohol?

If you're looking for the law that says passengers of a boat can consume alcohol, there isn't one. Laws are made to tell you what you can't do. Not what you can do. If if doesn't say you can't do it, then you can.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Can passengers consume alcohol?

On a related note, peeing over the side is a "sex crime" in Florida, for which you will forever be branded a "sex offender" and have to register as same, etc etc. Seriously. The law has run amok.

A local guy mooned a riverboat, is now branded a sex offender/pedaeophile because there were children on it. Registered for life.

had the guy had a thong speedo on, probably would have been ok (well, wrong on so many levels, but legally...)

 

[GatorMike]

Re: Can passengers consume alcohol?

so this guy is actually saying that beer and fishing DONT go together?!?!

passengers on my boat can drink all they want, and i like to have a couple beers when fishing but dont get drunk. the only time i dont drink beers when fishing is at night, its just too dangerous and hard to see at night.

I have known 2 people who died boating both had consumed alcohol. The first (a cousin of mine) alcohol had little to do with the accident but had a lot to do with the death. Jim was fishing on a 28 footer in the Gulf of Mexico. They encountered weather and the boat capsised. Jim was an athlete and runner the other 3 on board consisted of an old man, a 400lb fat guy and a 10 year old boy, yet Jim the athlete died of exposure. The others were picked up after 4 days in the water. It was dehydration that did Jim in. The other accident was the direct result of an intoxicated operator.

Drink if you like, just not on my boat.

 

[Stachi]

Re: Can passengers consume alcohol?

the real question beyond the legality...is what happens when a drunk passenger , makes a move that is dangerous....my brother once got pulled over after a drunk passenger , sitting in the rear seat of his car , reached over and grabbed the steering wheel and turned the car towards the police car parked on the side of the road...he was beer happy and thought it would be funny...
Know how your passengers react to alcohol....

 

[204 Escape]

Re: Can passengers consume alcohol?

I live in Kansas. I "think" it is illegal to drink. HOWEVER, I have seen ALOT of people load up LARGE coolers full of beer, and put it on the boat in front of the water patrol guy.

I just know, that I drink like a fish, and I DO NOT ALLOW alcohol on my/our boat, because I feel that it isn't safe. Just my opinion !!!

 

[BTMCB]

Re: Can passengers consume alcohol?

In California everybody in the boat can have open containers, even underway, as long as the driver is under .08.

Not entirely accurate. Depends on location. The local lakes I frequent prohibit any alcohol in the park, campground AND on the water.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Can passengers consume alcohol?

the real question beyond the legality...is what happens when a drunk passenger , makes a move that is dangerous....my brother once got pulled over after a drunk passenger , sitting in the rear seat of his car , reached over and grabbed the steering wheel and turned the car towards the police car parked on the side of the road...he was beer happy and thought it would be funny...
Know how your passengers react to alcohol....

No! The real real question is about the people you boat or drive or associate with. If you won't allow people in your boat to drink beer because you are afraid they will get drunk, then certainly don't allow beer in the boat (or car or house or whatever). But way way far beyond that, if you are afraid that your friends will get drunk, then you need new friends.

Boating or driving or picnics at home are all about families. Families usually include kids. Kids don't need to be around drunks.

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: Can passengers consume alcohol?

On a related note, peeing over the side is a "sex crime" in Florida, for which you will forever be branded a "sex offender" and have to register as same, etc etc. Seriously. The law has run amok.

So if you are drinking beers on the boat there, remember: you are not as invisible as you think!

this is one reason we stand in chest deep water on the sand bar consuming our adult beverages !

 

[180Fisherman]

Re: Can passengers consume alcohol?

I refuse to boat with inexperienced drunks. Unless they have boobies.

 

[mjgates]

Re: Can passengers consume alcohol?

I refuse to boat with inexperienced drunks. Unless they have boobies.

lol. Nice boobs not only gives them a free pass to drink as much as they want, but I encourage it.

 

[180Fisherman]

Re: Can passengers consume alcohol?

Agreed. And if the water is a bit choppy? Well, that's just a bonus.

 

[Thad]

Re: Can passengers consume alcohol?

And their punishment is that they have to sit in the bow facing the captain

 

[capt sam]

Re: Can passengers consume alcohol?

the sex crime thing is a little overinflated, if you're doing it in front of people then that's one thing, if you make an effort to conceal yourself then that's another.

 

[mphy98]

Re: Can passengers consume alcohol?

I have been told by the campground owners where we fish that you cannot have any beer or other alcoholic drinks of any sort, open or unopened on Eagle Lake by Dryden. This came up when I was packing shore lunch one day and had a can of beer to put in for the beer battered fish mix. Pat told me that one can of beer was illegal, but as it would be warm and in the shore lunch kit they probably would not give me a ticket for it. The key word was probably. So we do not drink and boat. Here in Wisconsin the same laws apply to motor vehicles and boats, ATV's, snowmobile's etc. You cannot motor a boat with any open intoxicants for the operator.

 

[pokman]

Re: Can passengers consume alcohol?

I think it's considered a problem if the occupants don't bring drinks with them in my state-yeah you guessed it WI

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Can passengers consume alcohol?

Here in Wisconsin the same laws apply to motor vehicles and boats, ATV's, snowmobile's etc. You cannot motor a boat with any open intoxicants for the operator.

Nope... open container is legal in a boat in Wisconsin. .08 applies for the driver, .04 for commercial operators.

(ch 30, sec 681 of the wis statutes if you really want some boring reading... http://nxt.legis.state.wi.us/nxt/gateway.dll?f=templates&fn=default.htm&d=index&jd=top)

open container will probably get you an instant safety check, but it isn't a ticket.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Can passengers consume alcohol?

Can passengers drink?

Only if the share, but then if they didn't they wouldn't be on board.

 

[CR CRUISER]

Re: Can passengers consume alcohol?

From the Canadian Power and Sail Squadron's Boating Course textbook:

"It is illegal for anyone aboard a boat to consume alcohol while underway."

"Underway" is defined as not at anchor or moored to a dock or mooring.

The LEO's will usually not persue the issue unless there is stupidity showing. And of course the operator must not be over the legal blood/alcohol limit.

One other note about drinking while boating. You follow the rules and don't drink until you are securely anchored for the night. The booze is flowing but the wind starts blowing and your anchor is dragging. Who's going to run the boat while you reset the anchor?