US COASTGUARDS FORCED TO CHANGE RULES

USA SUPERSIZING DOWNSIZES BOAT PASSENGERS

Americas burgeoning problem with its ‘society of the obese’ has finally had nautical ramifications as the US Coast Guard has been forced to rewrite the rules on how many passengers a boat can carry.

The existing rules allow an average weight of 160lb (11stone 6lb) per passenger aboard ferries, tour boats and other commercial craft. But this was set back in the 1960s and the USA’s obsession with supersizing itself has lead to a radical rethink. As of December the new average weight of a passenger will be raised to 185lbs, almost a 2 stone increase.

A coast guard spokeswoman stated, 'Over the decades people have gotten bigger and they weigh more, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, so the Coast Guard regulations were adjusted to reflect that.'

But according to the Coast Guard Lieutenant, “The big concern is that lots of overweight people move to one side of a boat at once, causing it to keel over.”

‘Look a dolphin!... AAAAAGH!”

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