Can you operate a boat while drinking an alcoholic beverage? Here’s what Idaho law says

Shaun Goodwin
Updated ·2 min read
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Boise got its first taste of spring this past weekend when temperatures soared to above 70 degrees, just days after breaking the 60-degree mark for the first time this year.

While temperatures will cool slightly over the next week, Idahoans can almost feel the lake air in their hair and a cold drink in their hand as boating season approaches.

But while boating and drinking alcohol tend to go hand-in-hand, what are Idaho laws surrounding alcoholic beverages on the water?

In short, if you’re the boat’s driver, drinking is a no-go. Just like it’s illegal to drive a vehicle in the Gem State with a blood alcohol concentration above 0.08%, no person is allowed to operate a boat with a BAC above 0.08%.

According to Idaho Code, those convicted of operating a boat under the influence can receive a fine of up to $1,000 and up to six months in county jail. Approximately 40 people are arrested each year for operating a boat under the influence, according to the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation.

But one key difference between boats and land vehicles is that open container alcohol is permitted on a boat as long as the driver isn’t consuming it.

Safety on the water

Idahoans don’t have the best track record regarding being safe on the water. About 34 people die from drowning in Idaho yearly, or 1.74 per 100,000 people in the state. That ranks Idaho as the ninth-deadliest state for drowning deaths per 100,000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

While not every death is alcohol-related, everything about the combination of alcohol and boating is a recipe for trouble. The motion and vibration of the boat, along with the hot sun, wind and spray, all accelerate the effects of alcohol impairment, according to the Department of Parks and Recreation.

Idaho law is that children ages 14 and younger are required to wear a life jacket on boats that are 19 feet or smaller, but it’s recommended that everyone wear a life jacket when on the water, regardless of age.

It is also required by law that individuals wear a life jacket when operating a personal watercraft, such as a jet ski, or when being pulled behind a vessel, such as going tubing or water skiing, regardless of age.

Boats less than 16 feet and canoes and kayaks of any length must have at least one type of life jacket for each person on board. The Coast Guard provides an online brochure of the different kinds of approved life jackets.