Can you drink on a boat in Ontario?
It is not prohibited to consume alcohol aboard a boat at dockside or at anchor in Ontario as long as the boat meets all of the necessary requirements.
Drivers who are impaired by alcohol or drugs or who have more than 0.08 BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) are subject to penalties ranging from fines to jail time.
Boaters who consume alcohol significantly increase their risk of death while boating.
Rules regarding alcohol on boats
The same rules which prohibit driving while impaired also apply to boats: you must not operate, assist to operate, or have the care and control of a vessel while impaired by alcohol or drugs.
Liquor must only be consumed in boats or other watercraft if the boat is licensed or it is a boat that the public does not have access to and is equipped with sleeping accommodations, cooking facilities and a toilet. In these cases, liquor may be consumed in the cabin or on the deck of the boat.
What blood alcohol level is considered an offence under the Criminal Code?
Driving while impaired is an offence under the Criminal Code of Canada.
By law, drivers who have more than 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood (the .08 level) are considered criminally impaired.
What are the penalties for driving a boat while impaired by alcohol or drugs in Ontario?
Fines and penalties as operating a motor vehicle under the influence
In Ontario, operating a boat under the influence carries the same fines and penalties as operating a motor vehicle under the influence. If you are convicted of boating while impaired by alcohol or drugs, you will face the following penalties:
First offence
-
If your blood alcohol content is between .80-1.19: $1,000 mandatory minimum fine and a mandatory minimum 12 month driving prohibition
-
If your blood alcohol content is between 1.20-1.59: $1,500 mandatory minimum fine and a mandatory minimum 12 month driving prohibition
-
If your blood alcohol content is over 1.60: $2,000 mandatory minimum fine and a mandatory minimum 12 month driving prohibition
Second offence
Mandatory minimum 30 day custodial sentence; mandatory minimum 2 year driving prohibition.
Third and subsequent offences
Mandatory minimum 120 day custodial sentence; mandatory minimum 3 year driving prohibition.
Ontario’s Ignition Interlock Program also applies to those convicted of drunk boating.
