Beer, Aperol, or mulled wine are enjoyed by 39% of men and a quarter of women while skiing. Surprisingly, the most frequent drinkers are, in half of the cases, over 55 years old. As an extenuating circumstance, they report drinking before the last run.
According to a survey for ERV European Insurance, this is among about 1,000 respondents. In some countries, however, alcohol is banned on the slopes. When a drink-driving accident occurs, insurers can reduce or refuse claims.
In Austria, as in the Czech Republic, alcohol is not prohibited on the slopes. However, unlike in the Czech Republic, the insurance company said there are actual checks on skiers. If someone is found to have a high blood alcohol level, they can lose their ski pass without compensation and be banned from the slopes. Alcohol is then taken as an aggravating circumstance when a collision with another skier occurs.
The ERV has stated that it is tolerant of small alcohol consumption. However, the presence of alcohol at the time of the damage must be taken into account when the attending physician or the police note it in the documentation.
In a drink-driving accident, the insurance company may refuse to pay
According to a survey and experiment conducted by the British insurance company Direct Line, skiers under the influence of alcohol are 43 percent more likely to be involved in an accident. The survey involved 2,000 recreational skiers and was based on a simulator experiment. Skiers first took a simulator ride without drinking alcohol, then after drinking alcohol.