Boat Sober New York

Think before you drink and boat! 

Alcohol effects you more on the water. The effects of the sun, wind, waves and vibration mixed with alcohol are a deadly combination. 

Drinking and boating isn’t just irresponsible it’s illegal. Operating a boat with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of .08% or higher is illegal. Penalties may include fines, jail, impoundment of boats and loss of on-the-road driving privileges.

Going Coastal’s Boat Sober New York campaign aims to raise awareness and promote a more secure boating experience for the tens of thousands of recreational boaters plying local waters.

Key Challenges Navigating New York Harbor involves sharing waters with diverse vessels, heightened by unique tidal currents, posing significant challenges to recreational boaters.

New York Harbor is one of the busiest waterways on the Eastern Seaboard. The world’s largest cruise liners, monster containerships, tugs, barges, sightseeing boats, dinner cruises, commuter ferries, water taxis and control vessels navigate federal channels and share city waters with thousands of pleasure boats. Tides and tidal currents unlike any other harbor increase the complexity of recreational boating here.  

Alcohol Awareness Nearly 50% of New York State’s waterway fatalities are alcohol-related, exacerbating risks due to impaired reaction times akin to “boater’s hypnosis”.

Many boaters may not realize that drinking while operating a boat is even more dangerous than drinking and driving. Research shows that a few hours of exposure to sun, glare, wind, noise, vibration, and other motion on the water produces a kind of fatigue known as “boater’s hypnosis”, which slows reaction time almost as much as if you were legally drunk. Adding alcohol to boating intensifies these effects.

Safety Impact 

According to the Coast Guard, a boat operator with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) above 0.08 is more than 10 times as likely to be killed in a boating accident as an operator who has consumed no alcohol.

Artistic Initiative

Artists were invited to submit designs for use in the awareness raising campaign that includes posters, wallet BUI Charts, and advertising to address the critical issue of boating under the influence. The winning entry was submitted by Evelyn Davis, partner in the design studio ‘Davis Walker Creative’