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Scotland - Beware Boats and Beer! First Drink Boating Fine.

We are always keen to bring you the latest developments in matters relating to licensing and can confirm that Sterling Sheriff Court has issued the first ‘drink boating’ fine.  A Mr. Kelly is apparently the first person to be prosecuted for drink boating following an incident on Loch Lomond. 

A member of the public had called the Police after considering the movements of his 18 foot cabin cruiser to be suspicious. Shortly thereafter Mr. Kelly requested help from the local Park Rangers when he ran out of fuel and when he was towed back to shore, the Police were waiting for him to undertake a breathalyzer test.  It is reported that Mr. Kelly was apparently so drunk that he almost fell off the pier when the Police spoke to him. 

He was fined £450 for ‘drink boating’ despite claiming he had not been driving; he had however been observed to be stationed at the wheel and was the only adult on the boat!