Lake Cowichan RCMP have announced they will have an increased presence throughout the region during the long weekend and Sunfest.
Police say additional officers will be on land and water to ensure that anyone attending the area abides by the laws and is respectful toward the community while using public parks and beaches.
They will be working to enforce impaired driving laws, as impaired driving is one of the leading causes of death in Canada.
According to the RCMP, approximately one in three collisions involve alcohol, and one in 10 drivers on the road after 10 p.m. have consumed alcohol.
Statistics from ICBC suggest that most alcohol-related crashes occur during the summer months—June, July, and August.
“One of the myths is that drivers believe they drive better after having a few drinks,” wrote Lake Cowichan RCMP in a media release.
“Having a few drinks will negatively affect a person’s judgment and reaction. Other popular myths are that I can have one drink per hour, drink a cup of coffee to sober up, take a cold shower to sober up, or eat something and not be as impaired.”
They added that all of these myths are false—the concentration of alcohol in a person will only be gradually eliminated with the passage of time.
Regarding drinking alcohol on boats, Lake Cowichan RCMP remind people that it is illegal to operate a boat while impaired.
Additionally, it is illegal to consume or possess alcohol in an open container on private boats in British Columbia unless certain criteria are met.
