Thousands of Britons are jeopardising their safety, and the validity of their travel insurance, by skiing or snowboarding while under the influence of alcohol.
In a survey of 1,000 British skiers by Post Office Travel Insurance, 22 per cent admitted drinking heavily (more than 12 units in a single night) during a winter sports holiday, while 39 per cent said they had hit the slopes while suffering from a hangover.
Should a doctor deem that alcohol was a factor in a skiing accident, it could invalidate the cover, leaving the patient to pay for medical and other expenses. On average, Britons drink 10 units of alcohol on a typical night in a ski resort, according to the study.
“It can take approximately an hour to burn off a unit of alcohol, so those who are drinking 12 units at night could still have high amounts in their system the following morning,” said Dr David Bull, who analysed the Post Office’s survey. He added that high altitudes might also increase the effect of excessive alcohol.
Last year Telegraph Travel reported that many resorts are targeting reckless or drunken skiers. A number in the United States now employ people to patrol the pistes in search of dangerous skiers, carrying out breath tests. In Colorado, drunken skiers face a $1,000 (£635) fine.
According to the Post Office, 75 per cent of all winter sports insurance claims made last season were for medical expenses. It said that hospital treatment for a fractured leg could cost up to £10,000, while a serious head injury could lead to costs of up to £250,000.
An air ambulance to hospital from a ski resort would cost £14,000 in Europe, or £40,000 in North America.
Research by the Foreign Office has suggested that many British skiers do not take out travel insurance at all.
A survey of 2,300 people revealed that almost a third do not take out cover before heading to the slopes, while nearly two thirds are unaware that many policies will be invalidated if an accident occurs off-piste, or is deemed to be the result of excessive alcohol.
Half of those questioned mistakenly believed that a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) would cover the cost of transport off the slopes, and air ambulance and medical repatriation.
“We strongly advise those hitting the slopes to take out comprehensive insurance,” said Phil Lord, a Foreign Office spokesman. “Medical treatment and repatriation can leave you thousands of pounds out of pocket.”
Source : The Telegraph
