It is illegal to operate a watercraft on all the waters of the Commonwealth while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance. Alcohol reduces the brain's ability to integrate information from the five senses. Alcohol slows the messages to and from the brain. After a drink or two, you may think you are a better boater, but you may fail to detect hazards and maintenance problems. Your response time to these problems is also slowed.
Alcohol increases risk-taking and causes daredevil behavior in some people.
It leads us to believe that we can do things beyond our capability. This behavior is common among alcohol users, and when it occurs on the waterways, the consequences are often fatal. According to laboratory studies, balance is one of the first things impaired by alcohol consumption. Even a small amount of alcohol causes a lack of stability. You may not notice a decrease in your balancing ability, but your inner ear and body do.