Travel insurance 'at risk if skiing drunk'

Skiers and snowboarders have been advised that attempted claims on their travel insurance could be at risk if they have an accident while drunk.

Winter sports enthusiasts have been reminded how having one too many could place their travel insurance at risk.

As the ski season is well underway, research carried out by More Than reveals that around 568,000 Britons going on a ski or snowboarding vacation this year take to the slopes despite being over the legal drink-drive limit from the previous night's partying.

By doing so, the firm points out that skiers and snowboarders may suffer from impaired balance and perception, loss of judgement and reduced peripheral vision.

And in the event of having an accident, some 31 per cent of people believe that their travel insurance will not be affected if they run into trouble on the slopes following after a heavy night's drinking.

But this is not the case and consumers could well find that an attempted claim on their cover - whether they have a single trip travel policy or annual insurance - is void.

More Than spokesperson Pete Markey states: "The findings of the research are extremely concerning - nearly 600,000 Brits will ski or board drunk at some stage this ski season which is not a small number."

Such comments come as AA Travel Insurance recently advised winter sport enthusiasts to make sure that their travel cover will provide protection for all the activities they intend on taking part in while away.

By Mark Hornby