Can I bring alcohol on a charter?
Yes. On captained charters you can typically bring your own alcohol — the boat is operating under a captain's license and is not a licensed bar. Guests 21 and older may drink responsibly; the captain has final authority to limit consumption if safety is at risk. Bareboat charters also allow alcohol, but the operator cannot drink while driving the vessel.
U.S. charter alcohol rules are straightforward but often misunderstood.
On a captained charter, the vessel is not a public bar. You and your guests bring your own alcohol (BYO) just like you would to a friend's private boat. Most owners allow ice, coolers, glassware, and mixers aboard. The captain is the legal and operational authority on the boat: if someone becomes unsafe, the captain can and will refuse to keep serving or turn the trip back early.
Underage drinking is strictly prohibited. Captains routinely verify ages before departure for charters that include younger guests. A captain who allows underage drinking is risking their license.
On a bareboat charter, the person operating the boat cannot drink. BUI (Boating Under the Influence) carries the same 0.08 BAC threshold as a car DUI in Florida, with escalating penalties. Passengers can drink; the person at the helm cannot.
On a few inspected-vessel passenger yachts — especially 49-passenger party yachts and dinner-cruise operations — the operator holds a separate liquor license and sells drinks directly, like a restaurant. These trips are the exception, not the rule.
Tipping the captain for being accommodating about your BYO setup is a common courtesy on top of standard crew gratuity.
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