 Poster: A snowHead
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AUSTRIA
IMPORTANT NOTE... People should be aware that Ski Insurance Policies generally do NOT Cover Legal expenses insurance in ""Criminal Proceedings"" or ""Civil Claim Proceedings""
In "vacation mode," the risks of winter sports are often overlooked. A recent representative survey by the Sports and Leisure Safety Department of the Austrian Road Safety Board (KFV) reveals that 34 percent of respondents participated in winter sports in the past twelve months despite having consumed alcohol. Many are even aware of the danger, yet they still take the risk. The KFV warns of an increased risk of accidents and legal consequences.
Vienna, January 29, 2026. With approximately 30,000 people requiring hospital treatment for injuries each year, winter sports activities such as skiing, snowboarding, and sledding are among the most accident-prone sports in Austria. High speeds, collisions, and falls lead to particularly serious injuries. "While alcohol is considered a high-risk factor in road traffic, the risks in winter sports are often underestimated. In fact, alcohol on the slopes poses a significant problem and can have serious health and legal consequences in the event of an accident," says Dr. Johanna Trauner-Karner, Head of the Sports and Leisure Safety Department at the KFV.
Skiing requires a high degree of attention. Not only must you navigate the slopes safely yourself, but you also have to be mindful of others. Dr. Trauner-Karner emphasizes: “Unlike driving a car, there are no crumple zones when skiing. In the event of a fall or collision with an obstacle, the impact energy is therefore transferred directly to the body and can be very severe.”
Lower risk awareness regarding alcohol consumption
A study by the Sports and Leisure Safety Department of the Austrian Road Safety Board (KFV) shows that risk awareness is often lacking in winter sports. The study is based on a survey of 3,000 winter sports enthusiasts aged 16 to 69, conducted between November 12 and December 11, 2025. According to the survey, 34 percent of respondents stated that they had participated in winter sports in the past twelve months despite consuming alcohol. Around 29 percent of them have used the slopes only once under the influence of alcohol, 58 percent two to three times, 9 percent four to five times and 4 percent even more often.
“The others are the problem”
The survey also revealed a pronounced cognitive dissonance: The overwhelming majority considers the combination of alcohol and physical activity “very dangerous” and perceives other people intoxicated as a risk. However, many tend to downplay their own alcohol consumption. For example, around 13 percent of respondents believe that their ability to drive is only impaired after more than three drinks (1 drink = 0.3 liters of beer or 1/8 of a liter of wine), 51 percent after two to three drinks, and 34 percent after just one drink. Around two percent even stated that alcohol (allegedly) does not impair their ability to drive at all.
How alcohol impairs skiing on the slopes
Alcohol on the ski slopes is problematic for several reasons. Even small amounts lead to slower reaction times, tunnel vision, impaired coordination, and increased risk-taking. At speeds of 30 km/h up to 70 km/h or even higher, which are possible with modern ski equipment, serious collisions can occur within fractions of a second. "Alcohol not only increases the risk of accidents, but also the risk of severe accident outcomes and complications. For example, alcohol dilates blood vessels and can lead to impaired blood clotting. As a result, brain hemorrhages can not only occur more frequently, but also be more severe," explains Dr. Trauner-Karner. Furthermore, the diagnosis of accident victims can be delayed because alcohol masks certain symptoms, and life-threatening injuries may be recognized later. The risk of hypothermia is also significant, as alcohol promotes heat loss.
Helmets are important, but there is still a significant risk at high speeds.
Although helmet use is high in Austria, misconceptions should be avoided. Ski helmets are only tested according to the relevant standards for impact speeds of up to approximately 20 to 25 km/h. At higher speeds, there is a very high risk of serious or fatal injuries, even with a helmet. "Helmets are extremely important – but they don't protect in all situations," the expert emphasizes.
No official blood alcohol limit, but legal consequences are possible.
Unlike driving, there are no preventative alcohol checks on ski slopes. However, the following should be noted: Anyone who causes an accident while intoxicated faces criminal charges (e.g., high claims for damages and pain and suffering, loss or restriction of insurance coverage). These are also compelling reasons to abstain from alcohol on the slopes, or at least to postpone consumption until after skiing.
FAQ: Legal Questions and Answers about Alcohol on the Slopes
Are the police allowed to conduct alcohol checks on ski slopes (similar to road traffic)?
While alcohol checks can be carried out in road traffic even if no accident occurs, the police have very limited preventative powers on ski slopes. However, if an accident occurs and intoxication is detected, the consequences for those responsible can be very severe.
What are the potential legal consequences?
If a civil lawsuit is filed because someone caused a skiing accident while intoxicated, the likelihood of losing is high. If people are injured or killed in an accident, the penalties in criminal proceedings are significantly higher due to intoxication, as particularly dangerous conditions existed.
When is someone considered intoxicated on the ski slopes?
A high level of attention is required when skiing. You not only have to get down the slope safely yourself, but also pay attention to others. We know from road traffic that at a blood alcohol level of 0.5 per mille or higher, senses begin to suffer: reaction time slows, the field of vision narrows, and one becomes disoriented. However, there are no legal limits on the ski slopes. Therefore, 0.5 per mille is a practically applicable limit that should definitely be observed. Courts, however, cannot apply this limit; they must prove actual impairment in the specific case.
What responsibility do hut operators bear if they continue to serve alcohol to visibly intoxicated individuals, and what responsibility do ski lift operators bear?
Generally, guests are always responsible for the consequences of their own alcohol consumption. However, if it is apparent that a person is already intoxicated and intends to ski down the slopes, then hut operators cannot be held liable if they continue to serve alcohol to that person. Hospitality businesses have the opportunity to intervene with intoxicated individuals and should do so. Ski lift operators should also stipulate in their terms and conditions that intoxicated individuals will not be transported. They can still ski down from the ski lodge, but they cannot ski back up – at least if the intoxication before the ascent is detected and consistently penalized.
https://www.kfv.at/alkohol-auf-der-piste-hohes-risiko-und-drohende-strafen/
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I think we could’ve told them this and saved all the trouble of the study and analyses.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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is this a first a sensible post from Stanton
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Visibly intoxicated is a long way from 0.5 per mille
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Alcohol is a nasty substance, worsens your abilities while also fooling you that you are more capable.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Orange200 wrote: |
| Alcohol is a nasty substance, worsens your abilities while also fooling you that you are more capable. |
| Shakespeare wrote: |
It provokes the desire, but it takes away the performance.
Macbeth Act 2 Scene 3
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Mind you, I will continue with a beer with my lunch, for all that.
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| radar wrote: |
| is this a first sensible post from Stanton |
No.
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You mean there are others?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@radar, titter. No, there are no sensible posts from it.
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Faschingswoche next week…often a busy week for the mountain bars/restaurants. And a busy week for the police who will be randomly pulling motorists over into lay-bys on most of the resort roads.
I’m not going to moralise about skiing after a few drinks….guilty in the distant past. But, whilst that is in the past, and not something that happens now, I wouldn’t like to see piste-side breathalysing, unless someone has caused an injury.
I do wonder, though, whether long/late night Apres ski drinking contributes to poor decision-making and accidents the following morning when people are possibly/probably still well under the influence.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I think it's only a matter of time before some kind of piste-side or lift-queue breathalysing is introduced, and hopefully before someone has caused an injury, although I suspect that it will take a serious incident before anyone takes any action.
I have occasionally seen lifties persuade obviously drunk people to stop skiing by preventing them from getting into the gondola or on to the chairlift but last week I came across a group of pissheads on the piste who were skiing like idiots while drinking from cans of beer and throwing the empty cans into the snow at the side of the piste. This was at about 10.00 in the morning. I was thinking of having a word with the liftie at the next chairlift as the group was directly in front of us, but then they sat on the chair, produced another round of drink cans out of their backpacks and cracked them open in front of the liftie. He just laughed and wished them a good skiing day. Seems Rules 1 and 2 of the FIS Code of Conduct no longer apply 
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Which country?
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Not forgetting that everyone skiing on a Carte Neige in France is not covered if they have more than 0.5g alcohol per litre of blood - ie not fit to drive not fit to ski. So those 'enjoying' a pint at 'elevensies' will be close to or over the limit especially considering residuals from the night before.
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You know it makes sense.
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| quinton wrote: |
| I think it's only a matter of time before some kind of piste-side or lift-queue breathalysing is introduced, and hopefully before someone has caused an injury, although I suspect that it will take a serious incident before anyone takes any action |
Lets hope so - don't want to be a killjoy and do occasionally like an radler at lunch but this makes total sense . . .leave the boozing when everyone's down safe during apres and after the lifts have closed like sane human beings
Doesn't negate for the inexperienced but overconfident skier however . . a lot of whom (I'm assuming) seem to be guilty of a lot of prangs . . why not introduce a 'proficiency certificate' of ski school attendance / ability level linked to lift pass purchase price / integrated insurance? The higher the level / the cheaper the lift pass . . .
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@Belch, breathalysing at the bottom of the home run in St.Anton would put the resort out of business! Either that or Mooserwirt & KK would go bust!
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Poster: A snowHead
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@quinton,
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I think it's only a matter of time before some kind of piste-side or lift-queue breathalysing is introduced
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I am not convinced. I don't see (where I am) it being a major problem.
Skiing too fast with too little skill however ... (and I can't see how you easily police that either).
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Jäger, Faschingswoche is not next week but the one after.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@under a new name, exactly. I’ve no actual scientific evidence for this sentiment but I’d say there are way way more accidents caused by plain simple idiots with lack of skill than by idiots who can’t ski as well as they might ordinarily for having consumed alcohol.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@jirac18, there's a bit in the middle of that Venn diagram labelled "drunk plain stupid idiots"
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| Orange200 wrote: |
| Alcohol is a beautiful substance, heightens your abilities while also encouraging you that you are more capable. |
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| chocksaway wrote: |
| Not forgetting that everyone skiing on a Carte Neige in France is not covered if they have more than 0.5g alcohol per litre of blood - ie not fit to drive not fit to ski. So those 'enjoying' a pint at 'elevensies' will be close to or over the limit especially considering residuals from the night before. |
Hmm ... forgive me being slightly cynical about how zealous this is going to be enforced. The Folie Douce in Meribel has helpers to ensure that the, in some cases paralytically drunk, customers are shepherded to either the bubble (better of course) or back to their skis at closing time. I have to confess to having a bit of a laugh at the bodies strewn across the pistes on the run back; fortunately, most seemed to be young and flexible and therefore uninjured !
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| under a new name wrote: |
@quinton,
| Quote: |
I think it's only a matter of time before some kind of piste-side or lift-queue breathalysing is introduced
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I am not convinced. I don't see (where I am) it being a major problem.
Skiing too fast with too little skill however ... (and I can't see how you easily police that either). |
I'm in Austria. I don't see that people skiing after a drink or two is a major problem, but I'm sure that there are more drunk and inconsiderate people skiing than there used to be - or rather, there seem to be more people who consider that skiing whilst having a day out drinking 7-8 drinks is somehow acceptable. I've seen people barely able to stand trying to put on skis, and watched groups of people drink several rounds of beers and shots over lunch and then set off for the afternoon. I get that people are on holiday. I get that there is a certain amount of bravado and group pressure amongst groups of lads, but my patience is running out with people who are an obvious danger to themselves and to those around them. I don't want to stop people having fun, but I've seen more accidents this season than I can ever remember seeing, and it's only the first week in February.
As for skiing too fast with too little skill - where I've skied in Canada my experience is that this is policed by the ski patrol and by having areas designated as slow zones, learning zones etc. I've rarely seen either in Europe. The ski patrol in Canada often has the authority to confiscate the ski passes of people who are not following the rules.
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@quinton,
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I'm sure that there are more drunk and inconsiderate people skiing than there used to be
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I'm sure there are more unthinking and inconsiderate people skiing than there used to be.
I would note that if you're in a collision causing injury in Aosta (at least), the Carabinieri will attend and if any suspicion, will breathalyse, with suitable consequences.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| RedandWhiteFlachau wrote: |
| @Jäger, Faschingswoche is not next week but the one after. |
Yes, you are indeed correct.
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| Quote: |
| As for skiing too fast with too little skill - where I've skied in Canada my experience is that this is policed by the ski patrol and by having areas designated as slow zones, learning zones etc. I've rarely seen either in Europe. The ski patrol in Canada often has the authority to confiscate the ski passes of people who are not following the rules |
Exactly this - I witnessed this first hand in Vail in the late 80s as a teenager and got a mild telling off myself on one occasion from ski patrol (semi-reckless 16yr old!) . . .It was only perhaps the fact that I was a Brit (almost an alien in resort back then) and had the gift of the gab / a strange accent that I got away with it 
An entrenched litigation culture seemed to ensure that at least the resort itself was doing something to negate eejits . .
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@under a new name,
yes
this
I'm sure there are more unthinking and inconsiderate people skiing than there used to be.
I def prefer low season, small places, and ski touring...
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| quinton wrote: |
As for skiing too fast with too little skill - where I've skied in Canada my experience is that this is policed by the ski patrol and by having areas designated as slow zones, learning zones etc. I've rarely seen either in Europe. The ski patrol in Canada often has the authority to confiscate the ski passes of people who are not following the rules. |
There are designated slow zones in most ski areas in Austria (can't really speak for the rest of Europe), but no real enforcement. And I don't think ski patrol in Europe generally have the power to confiscate passes.
I do have a vivid memory from my one trip to Canada, of skiing the home run at Sunshine late in the day, with a ski patroller stationed on about every other bend, telling those they thought were going too fast to slow down.
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@alex_heney, there are slow zones elsewhere, but as far as I can see not well policed at all.
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You know it makes sense.
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@alex_heney, I regularly ski the Ski Circus (Saalbach Hinterglemm etc), Zell am See/Kaprun and the Ski Amade areas in Austria. There are no designated slow zones in the Ski Circus and I don't recall seeing them in the the other two areas - and consequently there is no enforcement.
@under a new name, "I'm sure there are more unthinking and inconsiderate people skiing than there used to be."
I agree. There are unthinking and inconsiderate skiers, and there are drunk and inconsiderate skiers. The two are not mutually exclusive and my personal observation is that there is an increasing overlap between the two.
My experience of Canada chimes with that of others. It seemed to be socially unacceptable to drink alcohol on the mountain, and the slow zones were strictly enforced, as were the FIS rules (e.g. not stopping in the middle of the piste, generally skiing too fast or out of control, not giving enough space to beginners and childrens' groups etc).
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| quinton wrote: |
@alex_heney, I regularly ski the Ski Circus (Saalbach Hinterglemm etc), Zell am See/Kaprun and the Ski Amade areas in Austria. There are no designated slow zones in the Ski Circus and I don't recall seeing them in the the other two areas - and consequently there is no enforcement.
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So what do you think all the "Langsam - Slow" big yellow signs mean then?
Most of them ar as you approach lift stations, but they are also present at other places, such as around nursery slopes, and where pistes cross.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@alex_heney, @quinton, is correct in the Ski Circus there aren’t any marked/ designated slow zones.
Yes we have the slow down signs at lifts and key junctions.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Often stated that ski patrol in NA have the power to pull passes, EU have not. I think Idris here has said he doesn’t want it. I agree rules seem a bit gutless with no enforcement and when often applying to young men.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@alex_heney, A "Langsam - Slow" sign does not designate a formal "slow zone" in Austria. In the Ski Circus these signs just warn skiers that they should exercise caution at a junction or approaching a lift. In most cases they are as effective as a chocolate teapot.
In Canada a Slow Zone is designated as such by signs, fences and also on the piste maps. These zones are in areas where there are likely to be lots of ski classes or on pistes that are pinch-points or that get busy at the end of the day as everyone heads home. It is clear when entering an area that it is a slow zone, there are often fences or barriers that necessitate slowing down and very often (as people have reported above) there are ski patrollers stationed at the entrance and exits of these zones. Anyone who fails to heed the instructions of a ski patroller at the entrance will find themselves stopped by the guys at the exit of the zone, or at the bottom of the piste or at the next lift as the patrollers will radio down and will often have taken a photo of the offender.
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FAQ
