Generally, no. But I do have some hard, fast rules for a reason. I mostly fish offshore. Offshore can be very dangerous and it's expensive. So, I don't allow consumption of alcohol on the way out or while fishing. You can drink all you want for the ride home.

Why? Alcohol dehydrates the body rapidly. A dehydrated person is more susceptible to heat stroke and sea sickness, which will only worsen the condition.

If we've spent hundreds of dollars to run offshore, I'm not going to jeopardize the trip for everyone because one guy can't control himself. If I have to drop everything and run 40 miles or more back to port to drop off that one idiot it's going to double everyone's investment and cut into fishing time (which is very limited already).

Furthermore, anything can happen offshore. A squall can pop up, rough seas, high winds...you name it. If things get bad (and they do) my hands will be full handling the boat and keeping us safe. I cannot babysit a drunk at the same time.

In the end I'm the captain. It's my boat and I'm liable and responsible for all on board. If something happens then it is me that gets served the lawsuit. I'm the one that has to answer to the Coast Guard and file reports. I'm the one that has to deal with the insurance company. Therefore, I have to have a few simple, easy to follow rules to make sure we all have a good time and return safely with coolers full of fish.