Drink, the law and us......the future ?

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lancer

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It looks like the Minister (Mr Ladyman) is minded (his words) to introduce drink laws for leisure boating. I suppose it might be a reasonable idea but difficult to police. It will be interesting to see how this develops over the coming months and to see who will become responsible. In the meantime enjoy the summer. Do you think the government should do something like introducing laws such as drink laws for those on the water ? ?
 
Its difficult to form a reasonable opinion without more information.

Are drunken sailors not prosecuted when they cause problems as a result of being drunk in charge at the moment?

How great is the problem if one exists?

Will any new law change the situation or is this another Labour party good idea like banning fox hunting?

Perhaps its more indicative of the view which Labour hold of the yachting fraternity.

/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Of course it could be no more than a smoke screen to distract attention away from their downright incompetence and corruption.
 
...if they were that keen to pass new laws regarding alcohol, wouldn't a "No alcohol whilst at home" be more useful? Domestic violence would drop, nobody would walk through unopened french doors, and stairs would become a safe place?

Idiots

A
 
Let's face it , It is'nt just the person in charge of the craft and the effect on others that is a problem. The crew and passengers are olso at risk from all manner of accident and mishap just waiting to befall the over relaxed. And we all know there is no better relaxant than the old demo drink.
Should'nt we all take responsability for our actions and those in our charge. Mr Neptune is waiting to trip us up so why give him a helping Hand. ( Rant Over)
 
I thought Drink laws covered boats as well .... drunk in charge, endangering life / property, etc.

As we know - Breath tests are already being done and prosecutions have already been made ...
 
Well as far as drinking in charge of a boat goes, I will not drink whilst at sea in charge of the boat, it's just not responsible behaviour, lives are in my hands. That's my rule for me, what other people do is not my business, until they hit me of course!
 
Colin, 100% agree & I am sure that all sensible boat owners would agree as well.
I just think that it may be the short end of this busybody government introducing some stupid uninforceable law.
As you say not drinking at sea is sensible, but arguments such as being drunk ( that is only 1 more than 2 glasses of wine) in charge of a boat at a mooring is just the start.

There are many other instances for some uniformed twat to come aboard & give us a hard time, especially if like you we live aboard!

poter
 
Problem is what would the new drink law solve?
2 boat related drownings last year were drink related, something like 15 were from not wearing lifejackets.
The rest of the drink related drownings had nothing to do with boats.
Other than jobs for the boys and higher taxes to pay for this, can't see any real benefit as I believe there are very few drink related boating incidents, and would have thought the present laws were perfectly adequate.
I do agree with Colin that no alcohol if in charge of boat at sea , but there again I don't take a drink if I have to drive either
 
There was a case of a skipper being fined only last week in Gt Yarmouth (oil rig supply vessel),and the norfolk broads has had a drink law for several years now ,it seems to have stopped some of the silly accidents and saved a lot of deaths as well ,i think it is governed by the police and the broads aurthority
 
Go over to Lounge and look at thread : Ship hits 100yr old Bridge

This sort of thing tends to focus attention on drink and command on water. OK its a ship - 6000 ton Parcel Tanker, but in laymans eyes and Govt' dept's - it doesn't take much to make the gap to all boats as well.

I believe it is true that most boating accidents are not specifically drink related ... odd ones of course ........ I fell in Bembridge Hbr after a few cans - stepped into dinghy and lost footing. We were tied up at time.

I can only imagine that existing laws will have additions that spell out marine related ?? Would love to know the incidents / provocation that spurned this .....
 
Appears that the head of the MAIB is responsible for the calls, although there is no proof of alcohol being the cause of most incidents they took upon themselves to investigate.

Methinks that there's a rather ambitious empire builder in charge of the MAIB
 
Falmouth are having a crack down this summer on, speeding, bad seamanship, drinking, and anthing else that's anti-social.
Joint CG, Harbour masters, ( all three ) and local community Police, he will be on the water to check drink boating.

Brian
 
Falmouth ....

Good ...

But how long will it last and how labour / cost effective is it ? If it means stetching resources - we all know the outcome. Temp success and drift back to old SQ when patrols peter out.

But at least its' a start.

(So I'd better steer clear of Falmouth !! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif)
 
Re: Falmouth ....

End of August probably, sounds a bit like a directive from above.
I think that excessive wash comes under anti-social behavour, be interesting.

Brian
 
Re: Falmouth ....

Had a quick read through, and it seams a bit oneside, trying to prove a drunk was doing 40 knts, thus crash.
What I did not see was why three people lost there lives, and three were seriously injured. Why should a boat that does 40 knts be differant to car, would they be allowed to sell a car with no seatbelts, metal dash, no padding to protect people in a crash, no air bags know, and what about child seats and booster seats.
Drink driving might be a issue, but equally there is as much if not more injuery from boat design and sober accidents, and no mention.

Brian
 
Re: Falmouth ....

I don't quite understand your argument, so you are saying its OK to drive a boat at speed in a drunken condition and it's the boat designers fault ?
I don't think it is a good idea to chase leisure boaters waving a blowing into thingy to check what they have been drinking, but some people are just stupid and should not be out there !
 
Re: Falmouth ....

That boat was capable of 40 kts, there was no discussion in the report on three deaths and what could be done in future to limit injury and save lives. After all allowing for the slope and damage to hull and superstructure most of the energy must have been absorbed, had that been a car you would probably have walked away.
So one thing we know for certain is that sober or drunk boats will carry on running into things , so should we not be looking at minimising the risk of injury. Or do we assume that sober people will not be injured, thus we need not look at high speed boat interiors with respect to personal safety.
After all you wear a life jacket incase the boat sinks, well some do, so why not personal injury via an inpact.


Brian
 
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