Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Alcohol and Drugs

Wisconsin law prohibits operating a motorboat while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Alcohol and drugs cause impaired balance, blurred vision, poor coordination, impaired judgment and slow reaction time. Alcohol contributes to about one-third of all boating accidents nationwide. Read more about the effects and risks of consuming alcohol.

• Anyone who operates or attempts to operate a vessel is deemed to have given consent to an alcohol and/or drug test.
• Wisconsin law states that a person is considered to be operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol or drugs if he or she:
  • Has a blood or breath alcohol concentration of 0.08% or greater or...
  • Is under the influence of any controlled substance or any other drug, or any combination of alcohol, controlled substance or drugs that renders that person incapable of operating safely

The best thing you can do for your safety and the safety of your passengers and other boaters is simple—Don't drink and boat!

Areas of Impairment Due to Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) Because you can drink faster than your system can burn off the alcohol, there is an increasing level of alcohol in your blood. This level is referred to as Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC).