Red run: skiers and boarders consumer weekly allowance in one day on the slopes

• Nearly 400,000 drink-skiers set to hit the slopes this ski season
• Drunk skiers down on average 15 units a day – more than the NHS’ weekly recommended maximum consumption of 14 units 
• Six in ten (61 per cent) of those that drink and ski believe that consuming alcohol on the slopes is sociable and does not pose any threats or danger to safety
• The average drink-skier consumes the equivalent of 53 pints over the course of a winter sports holiday
   

New research¹ from Direct Line Travel Insurance reveals nearly 400,000, British skiers and snowboarders will take to the slopes under the influence of alcohol this winter season. The alcohol consumption of these 368,588 drink-skiers and boarders is an average 15 units over the course of a single day, equating to six and a half pints of 4% beer or 250ml glasses of wine, and exceeding the NHS’ recommended weekly adult consumption of 14 units².  

Over the course of a week’s ski holiday, Brits who drink-ski will consume a whopping 105 units of alcohol. This is the equivalent of 53 pints of beer or glasses of wine. Drinking is an integral part of a winter sports holiday for nearly a third (31 per cent) of all British skiers, who believe that alcohol on the slopes is a tradition and is key to the experience. Whilst alcohol may give some drinkers Dutch courage, 26 per cent of skiers claim a pint or two on the slopes helps their ability and increases their confidence. However, drink-skiers are taking incredible risks, as alcohol in fact slows coordination, reaction times and in some cases limits people’s inhibitions meaning they might take unnecessary risks and try to ride slopes way beyond their ability level. 
 

Table one: Brits’ attitudes towards drinking and skiing

Source: Direct Line Travel Insurance 2017
 

Six in ten (61 per cent) of those that drink and ski say consuming alcohol on the slopes is sociable and does not pose any threats or danger to safety. Nearly three quarters (69 per cent) of drink-skiers justify drinking as they are not looking after a child and therefore don’t perceive themselves as putting others at risk. A further 67 per cent feel that their drinking behaviours are acceptable because other people are also embracing the après-ski culture.  However, over the course of their skiing and boarding holidays 5.7 million British adults have witnessed or experienced first-hand an incident because of drink-skiing whilst on the slopes.

Tom Bishop, head of travel insurance at Direct Line, commented: “There is no doubt that après-ski is a popular element of a winter sports holiday, but Brits who drink alcohol on the slopes should be extremely cautious and consider taking the ski lift or alternative route down. Whilst alcohol may give them a new-found confidence, the slopes can be highly congested and with slower reaction times drink skiers could put both their own and other skiers’ safety at risk.

“With nearly six million Brits claiming to have witnessed – or worse, been involved in – a drink-skiing accident, we’re advising anyone enjoying a winter sports break to indulge in moderation to ensure that they do not wake up with more than just a sore head the next day.”
 

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Notes to Editors

• ¹Research conducted by Opinium Research amongst 2,001 UK adults, of which 599 have been on a winter sports holiday, between 24th and 27th November 2017
• ²Alcohol unit numbers for popular drinks taken fromhttps://www.drinkaware.co.uk/