Six years ago, the intriguingly named Dr Stephen Ladyman MP pledged to tackle the issue of drink boating, and we all wondered how on earth Government was going to deal with such a tricky matter.
It’s not that any responsible boater would ever condone being drunk in charge of a boat, but there are so many variables: what if you’re rowing back to your boat from the pub? What if you’ve had a couple and then the skipper lets you take the wheel for a couple of minutes? It’s not as straightforward as driving, there are so many variables.
For many years it seemed like Government had realised this and had come up with the eminently practical solution of ignoring the issue. Dr Ladyman moved on to pastures new, and the majority of boaters continued to handle their boats responsibly and soberly.
That is until now: drink boating is definitely back on the agenda and Government are frantically scratching their heads to work out how to navigate through this minefield.
To this end, the DfT (Department for Transport) has issued a consultation paper regarding draft regulations for alcohol limits for non-professional mariners and inland boaters.
The DfT consultation document proposes that alcohol limits should not apply to vessels with an overall length of less than 7 metres and a “maximum design speed” not exceeding 7 knots.
Now, you may be wondering what the RYA thinks of these proposals, well, ‘misguided’ is the frank answer.
Gus Lewis, Government and Legal Affairs manager for the RYA explained why: “First and foremost, the RYA does not condone being drunk whilst in charge of a boat.
“The RYA also supports the DfT’s proposals to exempt certain craft from the application of the legislation. The RYA, however, believe that the DfT’s proposals are badly drafted.
“Few, if any, boaters are likely to be aware of the theoretical ‘maximum design speed’ of their craft. We want to make sure that any new rules are clear, sensible and readily understandable.
“Given the uncertainty as to who on board a vessel is likely to be subject to the prescribed alcohol limits, in our view it is all the more important that the exemption is clearly defined. “
The DfT has also cited in support of the introduction of alcohol limits a report that suggests that a significant proportion of drowning cases and hospital admissions relating to water related transport are alcohol-related.
Now this is a disturbing fact... if it is a fact, but the very report cited by the DfT states the following: ‘No recent studies had examined the association between alcohol consumption and … water transport accidents … [or] drowning’. The authors of the report therefore simply estimate statistics based on research conducted over 12 years ago in Australia and Canada.
The RYA is keen to find out more about these statistica and has made an application under the Freedom of Information Act to try and find out where these figures came from.
There is no recent UK based research regarding alcohol related deaths at sea or on inland waters, in fact the UK has a strong track record in boating safety.
The RYA therefore maintains the view it took in 2004 that alcohol limits for recreational boaters are unnecessary because there is still no evidence of the existence of an extensive problem relating to alcohol and boating.
The RYA also has concerns regarding how these regulations will be enforced and by whom, although the DfT has indicated that these issues will be addressed in a separate consultation.
The RYA has now until the start of May to review and respond on the consultation document to the DfT.
“We acknowledge that Parliament has determined that recreational boaters should be subject to alcohol limits but we want to make sure that the proposed exemption, which we support in principle, is clear and unambiguous and gives recreational boaters a reasonable chance of being able to comply with it”, concluded Gus.
The RYA would be very keen to hear your views on this issue, so if you feel like getting in touch, have a browse through the consultation paper and then e-mail your views to the usual address enewseditor@rya.org.uk
