People taking holidays in French ski resorts such as Alpe d'Huez or Chamonix are to be encouraged in a new campaign to avoid taking to the slopes after consuming alcohol.The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's don't-drink-and-ski initiative has been welcomed by travel insurance provider InsureandGo, which said it is vital to counter the risk of accidents.
Research by the insurer recently found that around one million skiers and snowboarders have gone skiing while drunk, with two per cent admitting to taking to the pistes while very intoxicated.
Dr Guy Ratcliffe, medical director of the Medical Council on Alcohol, explained that alcohol "makes people less inhibited, which in turn can make them more prepared to take risks".
"In ski resorts, where people are often drinking at lunchtime and then returning to the slopes, there are obvious dangers that could be caused by over-confident people taking more risks than they usually would."
Those who get involved in accidents while drunk also risk invalidating their travel cover, warned InsureandGo.
Eurostar is launching directing ski trains on December 19th.
Written by Chris Smith.