Drunk in Charge...?

[uxb]

I'm against random breath tests for leisure boaters but, do think that anyone having an accident should be breath tested IF they appear drunk and, if alcohol was the predominant cause of the accident, then they should be prosecuted.

That would be far to sensible an approach for our self appointed guardians to consider...

 

[agurney]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-15796674

 

[alant]

The trouble with statistics is that they don't differentiate between people who have been drinking who have accidents and people who have accidents because they have been drinking.

Also "advice" from "volunteers" is seldom appreciated, attempts at enforcement even less so.

Result is the same, whatever the source!

 

[FishyInverness]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-15796674

Ah, ok, that kind of answers that definitively then....thanks!

 

[SvenglishTommy]

That would be far to sensible an approach for our self appointed guardians to consider...

Yes indeed it would, they could have taken that approach with cars but didn't.

 

[Searush]

Ohh, poo,
application of car laws to boat

OK, so the guy is a moron with a kid & a dog on board, but £450 for not providing a breath test & convicted of being "Drunk in charge of a VEHICLE".

It's the thin end of the wedge isn't it? Some jobsworth will be waking us up at anchor or in the marina with a "blow in this please" next.

 

[jimmcgee]

OK , WE ARE FIVE PAGES IN , NO ONE READS THE BIT THAT SAYS , DRUNK IN CHARGE PISHED IN CHARGE , NOT GOT A FOOKIN SCOOOBY IN CHARGE , AND THE BEST


IT'S OK , I KNOW WHAT I AM DOING ......

 

[Bosun Higgs]

if someone i loved was maimed or killed by a drunken boater i'd be really, really angry and would want to see something bad happen to that drunken boater.

Presumably you wouldnt be angry if it was me who got killed!

I never ever have a drink on the same day that I drive but thats my choice. However, I see just as many people driving who are equally impaired as they might be after a couple of pints for a lot of reasons, the most common one being age. Particularly old women forced to drive by lack of public transport / where they live. And I would be just as uptight about a family member being killed by some 80 year old old biddy than by a drunken driver.

So even though I dont drink and drive myself, I dont support the attitude that stigmatises having a drink and driving. It is PC.

 

[Ceejay]

So the message that one takes from this discussion

is that there are a fair number of people out there who like to go out in boats and who like to take a drink and don't want any interference from the authorities to regulate their waterborne drinking habits.
Speedboats, being excepted.
CJ

 

[Searush]

Well, if I'm spending 2-3 weeks holiday pottering around my favourite haunts I don't want to be forced on the wagon for the entire time. Sitting in the evening sun with a nice meal & a glass of wine, or later, watching the sun go down with a glass of scotch - it is all part of the joy of boating.

No need to get pissed or even exceed the recommended daily intake of alcohol & certainly no desire to binge drink - just the odd glass when the mood takes me. Sharing your friend's funbox is an important part of the pleasures of cruising. We all know we may need to up anchor & clear out in the dead of night if things go wrong so getting sloshed is clearly a no no.

It's about balance, about stopping the few idiots who are a risk to themselves & others without spoiling the enjoyment for the many. The OP seems to understand that, I am not convinced it won't be affected by "mission creep" as self-justifying jobsworths slowly start to get involved.

 

[Seajet]

Searush,

spot on.

We have enough erosion of liberty without this; and I too can see the appeal to the control freaks, next it would be breath tests at slipways and seeking permission / approval to take one's boat out !

 

[FishyInverness]

Yup Searush, spot on as Seajet says,

Happily, the local police at Loch Awe would be of the same mind I expect, as those involved in the Loch Lomond incident in the link.

I doubt they'd even raise an eyebrow to boaters keeping themselves to themselves who have had a few but are being absolutely no bother to anyone, whereas the legislation exists to curtail the behaviour of those that think getting faced and singing offensive songs whilst tearing up the loch is normal behaviour. (which was the incident that generated the discussion)

 

[alant]

Well, if I'm spending 2-3 weeks holiday pottering around my favourite haunts I don't want to be forced on the wagon for the entire time. Sitting in the evening sun with a nice meal & a glass of wine, or later, watching the sun go down with a glass of scotch - it is all part of the joy of boating.

No need to get pissed or even exceed the recommended daily intake of alcohol & certainly no desire to binge drink - just the odd glass when the mood takes me. Sharing your friend's funbox is an important part of the pleasures of cruising. We all know we may need to up anchor & clear out in the dead of night if things go wrong so getting sloshed is clearly a no no.

It's about balance, about stopping the few idiots who are a risk to themselves & others without spoiling the enjoyment for the many. The OP seems to understand that, I am not convinced it won't be affected by "mission creep" as self-justifying jobsworths slowly start to get involved.

"Sharing your friend's funbox is an important part of the pleasures of cruising."

There's no answer to that!

 

[uxb]

or even exceed the recommended daily intake of alcohol

For fish 'n chips....

Does anyone believe the media s h y t e about 'Recommended daily' anything anymore??

You'll be reading the daily mail next..

(Lower case intentional)

 

[Searush]

What's the "media" got to do with it?

Such recomendations come from Govt departments don't they? But the beauty of them is that they are exactly that - a recomendation. No compulsion whatsoever, just guidelines that you may chose to follow if you wish - or not. How can anyone get stressed over that?

It would be nice if a few more things in life could be recommendations rather than laws, but too many would take the pee I guess.

 

[Greenheart]

Echo Searush - everything in moderation. (Including moderation.)

I'm curious about the proportion of accidents related to alcohol consumption; something tells me that an overwhelming majority of those occurrences will also have involved petrol. Or diesel, but mostly petrol.

I'd love to read the statistics on drink-induced sailing and rowing accidents, where the very business of making the vessel progress, requires some alertness and competence of judgement.

I occasionally used to cycle home across central London while absolutely plastered, but never fell off or hurt myself, or anyone else. I doubt I could have said the same at the wheel of a car.

I'm not really making a point - except that boozing when you're active, helps you to realise when you've had more than enough. Boozing while sitting comfortably with one's paws on wheel and throttle, allows one the illusion of being in adequate control.

 

[uxb]

What's the "media" got to do with it?

The media publish the pish that is churned out by whatever jobswoth t w a t is looking to keep his funding in place....Then gullible twits start believing what they read/watch/hear, then it all goes downhill.

Does anyone remember when 'The News' was a daily paper you read then maybe fifteen minutes on the beeb at nine o'clock?

What a happier place the world was then.

No insatiable 24 hour media corporations that HAD to fill their time with twaddle that is of no relevance to 99% of the population.

 

[Searush]

The media publish the pish that is churned out by whatever jobswoth t w a t is looking to keep his funding in place....Then gullible twits start believing what they read/watch/hear, then it all goes downhill.

Does anyone remember when 'The News' was a daily paper you read then maybe fifteen minutes on the beeb at nine o'clock?

What a happier place the world was then.

No insatiable 24 hour media corporations that HAD to fill their time with twaddle that is of no relevance to 99% of the population.

I think you have a problem there. Take a chill pill.

Even with all the news feeds available, I often have difficulty finding the specific info I want. But I don't recognise your issues.

Certain people try to manipulate the "news" for their own agendas, but that has always been the case - it used to be only politicians & business leaders that had the power to do that. Media are more accessible now & many more people are able run single issue campaigns & do so more effectively. I don't really see that as a problem, rather a benefit.

The only down side is that populist campaigns are not necessarily good ones. Which I think is where you are coming from - but somewhat overstating the case.

 

[Greenheart]

UXB has a point - there's something to be said in opposition to airy claims made (and reported) on the basis of statistics which may have been pulled and pummelled till they support the sayer's very singleminded point of view.

And heaven knows, the intensity of news coverage now, allows the gullible the option of watching 24hrs a day without necessarily sieving out the meaningful from the nonsense, or waiting for substantiation of rumours.

And an alarming proportion of responsible adults remain quick to quote something they read in print or heard said on TV, certain that those articles' writers were ethically above any reproach.

Considering that substantial chunks of today's news programmes are routinely dedicated to 'talent'-show results, I find it easier not to tune in every day on the hour, as I certainly used to.

 

[SvenglishTommy]

So even though I dont drink and drive myself, I dont support the attitude that stigmatises having a drink and driving. It is PC.

Not sure it's a 'PC' thing, but you're right about the stigma of drink driving vs say speeding. If you get done for drink driving then society brands you a murdering lunatic, if you get done for speeding it's as if you're victom human rights abuse.