Nothing much can top a Rhode Island summer day out on the water with a few friends, taking in the sights of the Bay and enjoying the cool breeze of the ocean.

The idyllic scenery is often accompanied by a few frosty beverages to take relaxation to the next level. But that picturesque image can quickly turn into a living nightmare if a captain or passenger allows themselves to lose control of their senses, which quickly become dulled by alcohol or other mind-altering substances.

While it may not be thought about the same way as driving a car after drinking, boating under the influence (BUI) is as serious of a risk and as prohibited an activity as driving while under the influence.

In some ways, boating while intoxicated is even more dangerous, given the more lackadaisical mindset that people may have while aboard a boat than they otherwise would while driving in a car. But make no mistake, the environment while on a boat is perhaps even less forgiving than being behind the wheel of a car when alcohol is involved.

Forces are constantly at work against a boat captain, including the glare of the sun, the unpredictability of the surf, and the presence of other boaters who may act or move in unforeseeable ways. Alcohol can also cause impairment on the water much quicker than on land, as our body’s ability to process the alcohol and make adjustments to our balance is hindered on the uneven and shifting surface of the water.

Passengers, too, are at risk of falling from the boat if they lose their balance, something that becomes exponentially more likely the more intoxicated they become. Swimming in the open water is dangerous even for experienced swimmers, let alone someone who is drunk and likely not wearing a life vest.

The U.S. Coast Guard reports that alcohol is by far the leading factor in boating accidents and boating-related fatalities, contributing to 18% of all boating-related fatalities in 2020. While the allowable blood-alcohol content level for boat captains is the same as in a car, .08, the effects of alcohol can become apparent even before that threshold, causing issues with decision making and reaction time; both of which can have disastrous results for other boaters, passengers, or the boat captain themselves.

The safest course of action anyone can take when piloting a boat is to simply abstain from drinking, and ensure that they and their passengers can have an enjoyable and safe day out on the water, so they may all live to boat another day.