Science Finds What Boaters Already Know: Drinking Is Good

You can never be too rich or too thin, but you can drink too little for your own good. Boaters know that instinctively. Why else would you boat except for the dock party? And what's a dock party without spirits and beer?

Now comes scientific evidence in an article in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. A study shows that moderate drinkers live longer than non-drinkers.

The study confirmed the finding that alcohol consumption is heart-healthy and even helps destroy pancreatic cancer cells. The new news is that non-drinkers have higher mortality rates.

Researchers said that the non-drinkers tend to be from lower socioeconomic classes where life stresses are higher. They say lower income inhibits alcohol consumption because of the costs involved. Hmmm, that sounds like the rationale for why more people aren't boaters. Come to think of it, low income and high stress is a formula for high mortality with or without alcohol. I think those researchers were drinking when they came up with that conclusion, so don't drink the Kool-Ade on this one.

Boaters are generous with the spirits. However, I've never seen my Power Squadron friends drink while boating. We save all that for the dock parties. Age could be a factor. Most of my Power Squadron cohorts graduated high school in 19-none-ya-business.

Captains know, or should know, that alcohol has an accelerated effect on the senses when you are on the water. There's something about the glare of the sun reflected off the water, engine vibration, motion of the ocean (bay, river, lake) and the dehydrating effect of it all.

Plus drinking while boating makes you look stupid when you try to dock--and when those people with the flashing blue lights want to talk to you. They have no sense of humor about BUI. So just don't.

I'll drink to that.

More: See Boating Under The Influence .org

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