With the summer boating season about to kick into high gear this Memorial Day weekend, local outdoor authorities are sending along annual reminders about the consumption of alcohol in those watercrafts. 

Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police Officer Noah Workman explains that extended exposure to summer heat can rapidly deplete a boater's water storage, making consistent hydration essential.  

While State law permits the consumption of alcohol on a boat, operators must strictly adhere to legal impairment limits. Officer Workman emphasizes that impairment thresholds fluctuate heavily from person to person, and individuals can display distinct signs of slurred speech and coordination issues well below the legal 0.08 blood alcohol concentration mark.

Officer Workman reminds that, unlike traditional motor vehicles, boats feature open compartments without seatbelts. Because a boat is subjected to constant fluid motion and pivoting on open water, impaired decision-making or sudden impacts drastically increase the probability of an occupant being violently thrown and ejected from the vessel.

Furthermore, alcohol heavily impairs reaction times and crucial judgment calls regarding right-of-way navigation when encountering oncoming vessels. Operators are urged to consume water between drinks or step back from navigating entirely if they begin to feel any effects of alcohol.

Conservation police will continue actively patrolling local waterways throughout the seasonal stretch to enforce standard safety protocols, including life jackets, proper throwables, and OUI regulations.