Roger asked: > Are there sufficient drink-steering problems on the canals > though to justify this requirement?
The Department for Transport response to the consultation (http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/archive/2004/alnm/conresalcohollimi ts?page=1) addresses this point specifically. The "Overview of Responses" states: "One of the themes that responders returned to many times is that the exceptions should be based on any risk that is posed by non-professional mariners who are under the influence of alcohol and the evidence that exists of incidents that have occurred. The Department has found that there is some (and now increasing actual and anecdotal) evidence but have found it difficult to obtain precise figures of the number of incidents, as current legislation does not provide police with the power to test suspected persons for alcohol or drugs and there is no general statutory duty to report accidents and incidents relating to recreational craft. Legislation would lead to more reliable figures which will allow the Department to monitor the legislation as it is being enforced." And later the document states: "The most common guiding principle that was mentioned was the legislation should be proportionate to the risk that exists. Many people mentioned the lack of evidence of there being a safety problem with alcohol in the recreational sector. As mentioned earlier, at present it is very difficult to obtain full statistics; however once the legislation is in place it should become easier to build up statistics and monitor the framework for exceptions so that it can be altered if supporting evidence emerges." In other words, there is no evidence of risk, but we will make it an offence anyway. Somehow I doubt that any subsequent monitoring of the legislation will see this requirement relaxed! David Mack
