While impaired boating being illegal in Canada, Lifesaving Society Manitoba and MADD Winnipeg say that a number of boating fatalities involve alcohol or other substances.

 

Doctor Christopher Love with Lifesaving Society Manitoba explains that depending on the age group and exact year, between 40 to 70 per cent of all drowning incidents involved intoxication.

 

Love adds that the age group that statistically has the highest percentage of drowning fatalities due to impaired boating is the 35 to 64 age group, who account for 68 per cent of cases in that range.

 

Love explains that the penalties impaired boaters face when caught is the same as impaired drivers.

 

Depending on the exact circumstances, that could mean losing your license, getting your boat impounded, getting fined, going to court or even jail.

 

For the full interview with Love, tune in to Thompson Today this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10.