Driving a drunk boat: Can I lose my car ticket in the water?

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By the end of 2022, 97,659 private boats were proudly allowed in our Swiss waters. Motor boats are particularly popular. Their numbers are more than double that of sailboats and are constantly increasing. A little less than six percent falls under the category of ships shorter than 2.50 meters. Vehicles: shore boats, rubber boats, kiteboards and pedalos. 140 public scheduled boats operate throughout Switzerland.

Whether it’s a lake cruise on a scheduled boat, a day’s swim on a private yacht or a river party in a rowboat: boating season in Switzerland is back in full swing. And alcohol is often included for casual hours. But there is also a blood alcohol limit for boaters and can I even get my license back if I exceed this limit? We explain to you which rules apply in water regarding drinking and driving.

Different alcohol limits

As with driving, excessive alcohol consumption and driving are incompatible. In Switzerland the blood alcohol limit of 0.5 per thousand applies to both asphalt and water (inland waters) – if a vessel is used commercially, the limit is even lowered to 0.1 per thousand. On the other hand, an upper limit of 0.8 per thousand applies to Lake Constance, which borders Germany and Austria. Anyone who is over the legal limit should logically wait for the ID card to be withdrawn.

«Lake Constance regulations are the same in all neighboring countries. However, the Inland Navigation Act applies entirely to Swiss lakes. There may therefore be differences between cantons on how to proceed, explains Marcel Kuhn (47), chief of the naval police of the Thurgau cantonal police. According to the Inland Sea Navigation Act 2017, the alcohol limit also applies to non-motorized boats – that is, to pedal boats, stand-up paddles or inflatable boats, as they are legally considered rowing boats.

Are car and boat passes connected?

To answer the most important question about whether car and boat licenses are linked: no, anyone who exceeds the alcohol limit at the wheel of a boat automatically loses their license. And vice versa. However: In general, if eligibility to drive is questioned – i.e. if there is medical problems or alcohol abuse, the responsible road traffic or transport office may request the reinstatement of the other ID. This also applies if, for example, you ride a bicycle with 1.7 parts per thousand alcohol in your blood.

A valid driver’s license is not a prerequisite for the captain’s exam in Switzerland. And throughout Switzerland, for ships with an engine power of less than six kilowatts – less than 4.4 kW on Lake Constance – and even without engines or sails, no inspection is required. However, anyone whose license has been blocked or withdrawn due to poor driving skills should wait for the results of obtaining the boat test – and vice versa. “The consequences of the wrong action involved naturally depend on the individual situation,” explains Kuhn.

Alcohol is not a big problem in the lakes

“Fortunately, alcohol is not a big problem in our lakes. “There are only a handful of accidents per year that can be attributed to drinking too much alcohol behind the wheel,” says Marcel Kuhn. Since the traffic density in our waters is not (yet) as high as on our roads, it is less. In 2021, only one death was recorded in public transport across Switzerland.

Despite this, there are repeated reports of people choking because they are in good spirits or because they drink too much alcohol. Therefore, the following applies to water as well: Consume beverages only in moderation and act reasonably and carefully.

Source: Blick