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What is the law regarding alcoholic beverages while boating on our area’s lakes? I have a 17-foot, 150-horsepower, seven-seat recreational boat and spend many summer hours on North Carolina lakes with family members and friends. What are the laws concerning coolers of beer and wine and open containers of alcoholic beverages aboard small recreational boats?

— Guy Sinclair, Graham
 

Sounds like your boat can provide some good times, Guy.

Just make sure that the fun doesn’t get out of hand, law enforcement officials warn.

Mixing alcohol and boating can create situations that are more dangerous than operating a car, according to Capt. Chris Huebner of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission — one of several agencies that enforces waterway rules.

“It’s not like you’re just sitting in the backyard in a lounge chair,” he said. “You’ve got constant motion and hazards that pop up.”

Huebner said he knows people  hit the water on boats to have a good time.

Here are some basics:

* Municipal waters, such as those in city or county parks, generally do not permit alcohol.

* Beer and wine is permitted on state waterways, including rivers, lakes and other large bodies, but liquor and fortified wine fall under more strict rules.

* Liquor cannot be consumed in a public place, Huebner said. Unless the boat has a cabin, the state views drinking liquor on a boat in a public body of water as drinking in public, and illegal.

“Our officers do charge for that,” he said. Wildlife officers do as many safety checks as possible, he said, and often find intoxicated boaters.

* With the motion on the water, motor noise, sun and heat associated with summer boating, people can safely consume about one-third of the alcohol they could on dry land.

* Just as in driving, the legal limit for intoxication on the water is a blood-alcohol level of .08 percent. Law enforcement recommends having a designated driver on the water.

* Drinking to intoxication and boating can lead to serious accidents and even death. And before hitting the water, be sure to have all the proper safety equipment on board. You can find more on boating safety at ncwildlife.org. Click the “Boating/Waterways” link.