Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Alcohol and Drugs
Alcohol and drugs cause impaired balance, blurred vision, poor
coordination, impaired judgment, and slower reaction time. Alcohol is a major contributor to boating accidents and fatalities. Read
more about the effects and risks of consuming alcohol.
- South Carolina law prohibits anyone from operating a moving
motorized vessel or vessel under sail on the waters of the state
while under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or a combination
of alcohol and drugs.
- Penalties include a fine of up to $6,000 and up to three years
imprisonment. In addition, a person’s privilege to operate
any vessel may be suspended for up to two years. Enrollment in,
and successful completion of, an Alcohol and Drug Safety Action
course and a South Carolina boating safety course also are required
at the person’s expense.
- Felony BUI (boating under the influence) carries penalties
of up to a $25,000 fine and 25 years imprisonment.
- A person who operates a vessel is considered to have given
consent (“implied consent”) to a chemical test or
analysis of his or her breath, blood, or urine.

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Areas of Impairment Due to Blood Alcohol
Concentration (BAC)
Because you can drink faster than your system can burn
off the alcohol, there is an increasing level of alcohol in your blood.
This level is referred to as Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC). |
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