Sobriety Checkpoint Boating under the Influence (BUI) is both dangerous and illegal. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the use of alcohol is involved in about a 17% of all recreational boating fatalities. If marine law enforcement finds that a boat operator is BUI, the vessel's voyage will be terminated, the boat may be impounded and the operator may be arrested. Penalties may include fines, imprisonment, impoundment of the boat, loss of boating privileges, even loss of driving privileges.

Arizona Alcohol and many drugs can impair a boater's judgment, balance, vision and reaction time. Sun, wind, noise, vibration and movement – "stressors" common to the boating environment – cause fatigue that makes a boat operator's coordination, judgment and reaction time decline even faster when using alcohol, drugs and some prescribed and over-the-counter medications. As a result of these factors, a boat operator with a blood alcohol concentration above .10 percent is estimated to be more than 10 times as likely to die in a boating accident than an operator with zero blood alcohol concentration. Passengers are also at greatly increased risk for injury and death - especially if they are also using alcohol.

For more information about alcohol and your health visit: http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/

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

The asterisk ( * ) indicates estimated levels of impairment that could mean the individual is possibly influenced.


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
The asterisk ( * ) indicates estimated levels of impairment that could mean the individual is possibly influenced.

This table gives a guide to average impacts of alcohol consumption. However, many factors, including prescription medications and fatigue, can affect an individual's response to alcohol, and impairment can occur much more quickly as a result. There is NO safe threshold for drinking and operating a boat, so do not assume you are safe just because you fall into the "rarely" or "possibly" influenced categories.