British skiers warned of the dangers of alcohol on the slopes
December 10, 2009
A new campaign has been rolled out by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to warn British holidaymakers of the dangers of drinking alcohol when they go on a skiing holiday. The British Ambassador in Paris, Sir Peter Wesmacott says that the campaign is targeted at people who do not realize how quickly alcohol can affect the body at high altitudes. A recent study showed that a third of all under twenty-five-year-old Brits on the slopes had had mishaps because of a little too much to drink.
Posters are due to go up in train stations, airports and ski-resorts pointing out to skiers that reactions are slower when a person is drunk as are their perceptions of cold and danger. The posters will also tell holiday makers that alcohol can result in crime and a generally less enjoyable experience.
As well as pointing out the risks of drinking whilst on holiday in the mountains the campaign also highlights the importance of taking out some sort of insurance before hitting the piste. A survey conducted by the Foreign Office showed that thirty-one percent of those going skiing did not bother.
Head of orthopedic surgery at Albertville hospital, Nedjib Benammar said that most accidents on the slopes occur after lunch when skiers are tired and may have had too much to drink. He went on to say that he would like to see a legal limit placed on the amount of alcohol a skier is allowed to consume. At present there are no laws about drinking and operating a pair of skis or a snowboard.
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