A June 19, 2007 article by Joyce Miller notes ACSH's recommendations on alcohol and water safety:
According to the Missouri Water Patrol, alcohol greatly increases a person's chances of drowning when swimming. Alcohol consumption is associated with a wide range of accidents and injuries resulting from the impaired performance of complex mental and motor functions, such as driving.
The subtle and complex mixture of mental and motor functions required to swim or walk along a swaying dock make these activities prone to be affected by impairment from even low doses of alcohol.
Wearing a life jacket is always recommended when you are in or near water, lounging on a dock or swimming in the lake. But when alcohol is involved, wearing a life jacket is essential. According to the American Council on Science and Health, "No one should drink alcohol, even in moderation, before operating a motor vehicle or engaging in other activities that involve attention and skill or physical risk. Such activities include operating machinery, boating, swimming, diving and skiing."
