Skiing, Alcohol and Insurance !

Never have, and never will take out travel insurance. Call me stupid, but my bank balance is a lot healthier for it…

My policy mentions 'alcohol abuse' in the exclusions. That is the only place that alcohol is mentioned in the whole policy. It seems reasonable......

Smokey Barr wrote:Never have, and never will take out travel insurance. Call me stupid, but my bank balance is a lot healthier for it…

.... presumably because you have not have to make a claim to date!

A short hop on a helicopter to hospital could cost you thousands and this is the transport option of choice in many resorts. Some have suggested that the resorts use the helicopters way too frequently to spread the cost of having the service available when it is really needed!

Its obviously up to you but I think skiing without insurance is lunacy.

As regards alcohol on the slopes, obviously being hammered while skiing is asking for trouble, quite apart from any possible financial considerations. On the other hand a glass of beer at lunchtime is unlikely to make much difference. However, if your insurance policy states that cover does not apply where you have consumed any alcohol, then you could be in trouble. If they are not that specific, I suspect it would be very difficult for them to renege but they could make life difficult, delaying the payment of your claim and possibly forcing you to take them to court.

most of my mate enjoy a few beers whilst on the slopes. personaly i dont prefer to have coffee . i wait til im back in resort. bit of a lightweight anyway :shock:

Its obviously up to you but I think skiing without insurance is lunacy.

But is it? Considering how long it takes for alcohol to leave your system (http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/853.aspx?CategoryID=87&SubCategoryID=871) and the fact I have every intention of enjoying my apres, and a few cheeky ones on the slope, my insurance would be useless...

Smokey Barr, you may be able to fund your own recovery costs, (occasionally up to £20k if heli and search are involved), from your current bank account. Would you be able to foot the bill for your Public Liability costs if another skier's legal team makes a claim? If it's all small beer to you, we should get together and I'll help you spend it 8)

bandit wrote:

Dave Mac wrote:Morning drink ~ hot chocolate
Lunchtime ~ Johannisbeere, normally pur, sometimes gespritze.
Either 4.30pm last mountain stop or 5.00pm finish, gluewein.
I don't think this would be an issue in a courtroom.

You are making an assumption here, as no acceptable alcohol ml level is issued by your Insurer in your Policy.

Unless you have changed, we share the same insurer. I use them because the off piste cover is about as reasonable as I can find. I cannot see any mention of a ml level.
How would there be evidence of any level? ~ assuming you weren't blotto. They would need to take a blood test, and that would require your permission.
A gluewein cannot contain 2 or three units of alchol, it is watered down.
I am not promoting drink/skiing here, my only daytime drink will be followed by the last run down, on empty slopes.

I wouldn't deem to call you stupid. You make a choice, and effectively you are gambling. Last years helicopter cost to Kufstein Krakenhaus was just under 2000 Euros. The medical cost, accounting for the possession of an EHIC, might be under a 1500 Eu for a break. Repatriation another couple of thousand.
Costs in France would be much higher, and in many resorts the EHIC is not accepted.
Whatever you do, do ski in theUSA or Canada!

What if you caused an accident, someone else was injured or killed, and you were sued? That is a bankruptcy job, barring a rich dad!