Alcohol Use by Rhode Island Recreational Boaters

Medicine and Health Rhode Island, Jan 2004 by Mello, Michael J, Nirenberg, Ted D

There are over thirteen million recreational boats registered in the United States. Given alcohol's association with injury,2,3 it is hypothesized that alcohol use increases the risk of recreational boating accidents. Although boating under the influence of alcohol is illegal, many boaters are unaware of the potential negative effects of alcohol and the legal ramifications of alcohol use and boating. Previous research, as well as the laws concerning boating and alcohol, have focused mainly on boat operators. Taking into account the physiologic and psychological effects of alcohol, and considering that all onboard persons must navigate on a moving surface that is frequently wet and slippery it can be theorized that any passenger using even small amounts of alcohol is at independent risk of injury.5-7

This project was conducted to determine the use of alcohol by both recreational boat operators and passengers in the Rhode Island boating community.

METHODS

A database of registered Rhode Island boat owners was obtained from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. One thousand registered boat owners (out of a total of 36,833) were randomly selected and were mailed a survey questioning the boat owner about boating use, alcohol use (quantity/frequency questions) while boating, and passengers' alcohol use (quantity/frequency questions) while boating. In an attempt to maximize recall accuracy, the questions regarding alcohol use addressed their behavior during the month just before they received the survey (July, 2000).

To increase compliance, an incentive (a coupon for a free ice cream cone) and a stamped addressed return envelope accompanied the survey. The survey packet also contained a stamped return addressed postcard. Participants were asked to send back the coded postcard separately documenting completion of the survey or opting out of the study. Mailing the survey answers separately insured the confidentiality of responders. Those who did not return the postcard in thirty days were sent another survey packet. Participants not responding to the first or second mailing were sent another survey packet thirty days after the second mailing. No incentives were included in the second or third mailings. Our institutional review board approved the research protocol.

Four hundred and seventy three surveys were returned with data that could be analyzed; 173 surveys were returned without usable data. This included 19 respondents refusing participation, 44 respondents classifying themselves as no longer recreational boat owners, 106 surveys returned undeliverable marked "no forwarding address", and 4 surveys returned marked that the boat owner was deceased. The final response rate was calculated to be 56% (473/846).

RESULTS

Respondents were mostly male (88%), with an average age of 51 years. (Table I) They reported that during the previous month they had used their boat on an average of 8.96 days. Most operated a powerboat (75.2%), and most reported more than 300 hours of boat-operating experience (69%). One third of the boat operators reported using alcohol while boating or within two hours of boating during the previous month and reported that almost half (46%) of their boating passengers drank alcohol while boating or just prior to boating. The amount of alcohol consumed by either operator or passenger was usually one or two drinks per occasion, but a small subset drank significantly larger amounts. (Table II) As the age of the respondents increased, the number of drinks by the boat operator decreased (p = 0.004) and the frequency of drinking decreased (p = 0.03). Those with more total boating experience drank more frequently (p = 0.04). In examining boat operators' drinking behaviors with those of boat passengers we found a positive correlation (p

DISCUSSION

All fifty states have laws regarding operating a boat while under the influence of alcohol. Federal regulations set a blood alcohol limit standard for recreational boaters of 100 mg/dl. Several states have stricter limits (generally 70-80 mg/dl), as well a behavioral standard. At the time of this project, Rhode Island law was 100 mg/dl; however, subsequent legislation has lowered it to 80 mg/dl. But the laws of alcohol use while boating are not well known to boaters. According to a survey of registered boaters in Massachusetts, "only 20% knew that an intoxicated boater was subject to a fine of up to $5000 and one year in jail, while 45% thought there was no federal boating and alcohol law."4

This study indicates that one third of boat operators who responded to the survey drank alcohol while boating or within two hours of boating. This rate of alcohol use while boating is consistent with previous research in other locals.8,9 These rates have consistently remained high. A subgroup of drinkers consumes large amounts of alcohol while operating a boat. If a third of motor vehicle operators were drinking alcohol while driving it would enlist more education and enforcement activities than are presently utilized for alcohol use while boating.