Investigation of the accident turned up several beer cans in the boat. Although the final investigation has not been concluded, there is a great possibility that alcohol played a part in this accident. Most boaters, even though they logically know that they should not drink and boat, don't understand the enhanced effects that alcohol can have on the water. This in itself reduces reaction time almost as much as being under the influence. Adding alcohol to these environmental stressors intensifies their effects.
Alcohol can decrease a person's ability to handle a boat in many ways.
As a depressant, alcohol goes straight to the nerves, blood stream, and the brain. As recreational boaters it is hard enough to remember all the rules, regulations, boat handling techniques, etc. while lucid. Eroding sense of balance - Most boating deaths result from falling out of a small open boat, without a PFD, whether it capsizes or not. Color perception and peripheral vision deteriorate and at night depth perception decreases. Coordination suffers - Should a person fall into the water they may have trouble just floating, let alone grasping onto a life ring or throwable device.