Alcohol involvement in deaths arising from recreational boating: summary of results from main studies
| Country and years | Population* | Boating† | Alcohol determination criteria | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| *Study population for the whole study from which the boating data come, plus relevant information about the activity of the subjects included in the results for this table (which attempts to only cover recreational boating). | ||||
| †“n” represents the total number of persons in the study in the boating (or similar) category. | ||||
| United States (New York), 1988–94; Browne et al, 200340 | All unintentional drownings | n = 207 | Death within 6 hours; blood taken with 24 hours of death | |
| Persons ⩾15 years; water craft related (>90% recreational) | More than zero | 44% | ||
| >0.05 | 33% | Available for 73 (35%) | ||
| >0.10 | 25% | |||
| United States (Louisiana), 1998; CDC, 200141 | All drownings | n = 34 | Alcohol (and/or drugs) present in autopsy sample | |
| Persons ⩾13 years; “boating related” (<10% occupational) | More than zero | 48% | Available for 27 (79%) | |
| United States (Maryland and North Carolina), 1990–98; Smith et al, 200128 | Recreational boating fatalities (nearly all drowned) occurring from April to October inclusive | n = 253 | Autopsy blood alcohol levels adjusted for time since death; bodies recovered within one week | |
| More than zero | 55% | |||
| >0.05 | 36% | Available for 221 (87%) | ||
| Persons ⩾18 years | >0.10 | 27% | ||
| >0.15 | 11% | |||
| United States (California), 1974–85; Wintemute et al, 198832 | All drownings | n = 43 | Death within 6 hours; blood taken with 24 hours of death | |
| Persons ⩾20 years; recreational boating, rafting | More than zero | 50% | ||
| >0.05 | 35% | Available for 14 (33%) | ||
| >0.10 | 28% | |||
| Canada, 1999; Canadian Red Cross Society, 200033 | All drowning deaths | n = 116 | “Blood testing”—no more details | |
| Persons ⩾15 years; recreational boating | More than zero | 47% | Available for 76 (66%) | |
| >0.08 | 34% | |||
| Australia (Geelong), 1959–83; Plueckhahn, 198436 | “Accidental” drownings | n = 62 | “Valid” blood alcohol levels in autopsy blood sample | |
| Persons ⩾15 years; “water transport accidents” | More than zero | 34% | ||
| ⩾0.08 | 17% | Available for 29 (47%) | ||
| ⩾0.15 | 3% | |||
| United States (Maryland), 1968–72; Dietz and Baker, 197434 | “Accidental” drownings | n = ? | “Blood tests”; body submerged less than 12 hours | |
| Persons 15 years or older, “boating” | More than zero | 57% | ||
| >0.10 | 43% | Available for 7 (unknown %) | ||
| >0.15 | 43% | |||
| United States, 2000; US Coast Guard, 200142 | “Recreational boating” fatalities (74% of persons drowned) | n = 701 | “Evidence or a reasonable likelihood that alcohol was consumed by a boat’s occupants” | |
| “Involved” | 31% | |||
| “Cause” | 14% | Available for an unknown % of boating deaths | ||
| Denmark, 1989–93; Steensberg, 199839 | All “accidental” drowning deaths | n = 94 | Information on alcohol involvement from the death certificate summary | |
| Persons ⩾15 years | “Under the influence” | 15% | Available for an unknown % of boating deaths | |
| Finland, 1986–88; Lunetta et al, 199843 | Fatal leisure boat “accidents” (94% of persons drowned) | n = 510 (340 deceased) | Blood alcohol values probably based on blood tests, but did not necessarily relate to the victim (apparently sometimes being from the operator of a boat from which a passenger was killed) | |
| ⩾0.10 | Operators: 67% | |||
| Persons ⩾15 years | Passengers: 76% | |||
| ⩾0.15 | Operators: 59% | |||
| Passengers: 65% | Available for 450 (88%) | |||
| United States (Ohio), 1983–86; Molberg et al, 199344 | “Recreational boating” fatalities (80% due to drowning) | n = 124 | Judgment about alcohol use by investigators—minimal toxicological testing | |
| “Mentioned” | 21% | |||
| Age not specified | “Cause” | 7% | Available for an unknown % of boating deaths | |
| United States (North Carolina), 1980–84; Patetta and Biddinger, 198838 | Unintentional drownings | n = ? (total number not known) | Alcohol present in autopsy blood sample | |
| Persons ⩾15 years; “motorboating” | >0.10 | >20% | Available for an unknown % of boating deaths, but for 87% of all drownings | |
| Australia (Geelong), 1967–71; Plueckhahn, 197235 | “Accidental” drownings | n = ? (total number not known) | Alcohol present in autopsy blood sample | |
| Persons ⩾16 years; “boating” | More than zero | 67% | Available for 3 (unknown % of boating deaths, but available for 69% of all drownings) | |
| >0.08 | 67% | |||
| >0.15 | 67% | |||