Twenty percent of 2008 boating incidents involved alcohol

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About one of every five Wisconsin boating incidents involved alcohol last year, and that’s way down from the past.

The Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism checked Department of Natural Resources records, and found that alcohol was a factor in 21 percent of boating incidents in 2008.

In four of the last 10 years, alcohol was cited in 85 percent of incidents on the water.

Local authorities cite stronger enforcement of drunken boating laws.

Marine shop owner Dan Thomson of Fremont says there’s been a cultural change and more of us realize that drinking on the water is not very acceptable anymore.

The journalism center said eight of the 20 people who died in Wisconsin boating incidents last year were on boats without motors and most capsized.

All but two of the 17 boaters who drowned were not wearing life jackets.

And about half of those who drowned over the last decade did not know how to swim.

Tags: boating incidents, outdoors, alcohol