AntarcticPilot
Well-known member
When I was very young (back in about 1960) we sailed on the River Humber. There was a story doing the rounds that the master of a tug boat in Hull docks got very drunk, got on board and started a joy ride in the tug. It ended with him ramming the dock gates and doing significant damage. The punch-line was that he was prosecuted for being Drunk in Charge of a Tug Boat. I have no idea whether it actually happened - it was an old story in 1960ish - but the existence of the story backs up @Refueler's recollection of "Drunk in charge" being used more widely than it is now.Its a situation that was solved many years ago - but the wannabees always want something specific to their cause. If they got their way and specific Boating / Drink laws were enacted - they'd probably then want to classify the boats for limits !!
For many years you could be prosecuted for drunk in charge of Horse / Bicycle / Boat / Lawn Mower in fact literally anything - if it was shown that you were a hazard or caused / cause for concern.