Alcohol and boating are a dangerous combination. In 2005, there were 157 fatalities where alcohol was the contributing factor, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. Here are some important reminders:

• It’s against the law in Texas to operate a boat while intoxicated, including a loss of mental or physical faculties or a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher. Violators of boating while intoxicated (BWI) laws can receive fines and jail time, lose their driver's license and temporarily have their boat confiscated. See the Texas Water Safety Act.
• Designate a boat operator who won’t drink alcohol.
• Alcohol impairs your sense of balance. A moment of dizziness can be disastrous on the water.
• Safe boating requires good vision. Alcohol can restrict your vision, including peripheral vision. It can impair your ability to focus on objects. And it can reduce your night vision, especially for reds and green — the colors of boat navigation and buoy lights.
• The effects of sun, wind and the motion of a rocking boat can accentuate alcohol's effect. Your judgment can be impaired and your reactions slowed with fewer drinks than on land. You don’t have to be drunk to be impaired.

The bottom line is, please don't drink alcohol and operate a boat.