 Poster: A snowHead
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According to a recent study, around 200,000 people have been active on Austria's ski slopes and toboggan runs under the influence of alcohol in the past year, according to the
Kuratorium für Verkehrssicherheit and Die Presse.
https://www.kfv.at/kfv-dunkelfeld-studie-rund-200-000-menschen-pro-jahr-betrunken-auf-oesterreichs-pisten/
https://www.diepresse.com/19326771/studie-200000-menschen-sind-betrunken-auf-der-piste-unterwegs
Actual figures probably much higher
According to a representative study by the Sports and Leisure Safety Department of the KFV, après-ski and alcohol are part of winter sports in Austria for 38 percent of those surveyed.
10 percent of respondents indicated that they have "regularly" practiced with alcohol on winter sports in the past twelve months, and 13 percent "occasionally".
It is estimated that around 200,000 people have engage in winter sports in Austria in the past year in a drunken state.
The KFV emphasizes that the actual figures are probably higher, because not everyone admits their alcohol consumption honestly.
Accidents and hypothermia
The KFV points out that alcohol not only reduces responsiveness and coordination, but also increases the risk of hypothermia, because the body is less able to retain heat.
Unlike road traffic, where blood alcohol limits apply, there is no legal restriction on alcohol consumption on the slopes. This can lead to dangerous situations.
Every year, around 30,000 people in Austria are so seriously injured during winter sports that they have to be treated in hospital. It is not known exactly how many of them were drunk during the accident.
Lift operators are challenged
However, it could be conceivable that lift operators stipulate in their conditions of carriage that the use of ski lifts in an intoxicated state is not permitted, the KfV also advocates that as many lift operators as possible include this in their regulations and also launch appropriate initiatives ("It would also be positive for the resort image") that their visitors are only on the slopes sober.
If this were prescribed in the conditions of carriage, "that would be something," says Kaltenegger. "This means that a lift attendant would not allow an obviously drunk skier to use it. Otherwise he won't dare to do it."
Wait for alcohol until after winter sports
The KFV also calls on winter sports enthusiasts to take responsibility and limit their alcohol consumption and to postpone it as much as possible until after the ski day. It is also recommended to drink enough water and take regular breaks to reduce the risk of accidents.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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If they want to stop it then all they need to do is stop selling booze in the mountain. Seems to me that lift operators and restaurants are more than happy to sell as much as possible.
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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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As someone that doesn't really drink alcohol and does think drunk skier pose an increased risk to others it would be easy for me to say ban alcohol. However, I think you are punishing the majority of people who can drink in moderation for the stupidity of a minority. I think alcohol is quite engrained into the skiing culture, and don't think you will change that easily.
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In Alta Badia two weeks ago I noticed Brits/others downing pints of beer at 10am ish. Not young lads, instead groups of middle age couples, perfectly respectable ‘normal’ folk on the first ski breaktime of the day in mountain restaurants. As we enjoyed a nice coffee. Also heard central Europeans (Hungarians?) annoyed with the Edelweiss restaurant for not serving them booze at 10am.
I’m not a prude at all, I love a beer or G&T, I’ve enjoyed great nights out in Ischgl, St Anton, Kitz. But I’ve never fancied liquor in the morning.
Presumably the ‘you only live once’ holiday vibe?
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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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I drink as much alcohol on the slopes as I do when I'm driving a car or riding a motorbike in the UK. None at all. When I do have a drink, for me that's my skiing day done.
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@MajorQ, Bully for you. I've known a few people who do this, and my conclusion is always that they fear that they wouldn't be able to stop at one.
I sometimes like a pint around 12 ish, maybe another one with a late lunch. I'll also happily have a couple of pints over in Châtel of an evening and drive back, or maybe one and a couple of glasses of wine with dinner. All habits which I have no intention whatsoever of stopping.
TBH I think the drinking culture has always been there - anybody else remember when it was considered normal to take a hip-flask out skiing with you? If it's more of a problem nowadays I suspect that's more down to the sheer number of skiers than to the very few who get absolutely shitfaced and then ski home.
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I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone drunk whilst skiing.
That said. It’s not typical for me to be skiing about late afternoon.
I really enjoy an aperol or a glass of wine at lunch time / afternoon break on my skiing trips. It’s part of the experience for me.
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@Chaletbeauroc, a couple of pints and drive back!? Just as well I have no interest in skiing in the PDS
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It’s usually the dutch hammered out of their skulls. I think it’s the hip flasks, yagermeister, etc. more than the beer.
Have a beer, have a ski, wash & repeat.
By the time I am on my 3rd or 4th pint (3rd stop), the 1st stop has already been processed & alcohol affects negligent.
So quite easy to have 5 or 6 pints, but only about 3 still in your system.
Throw in shots or bombs, then its a different story.
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Clickbait. 48% of accidents on piste occur between 10.30 and 12.00, when there are more people on piste and alcohol is (fairly) limited. It drops to 10% after 3pm when the boozers are trying to ski down and usually doesn't involve collisions with other skiers.
Last edited by Ski the Net with snowHeads  on Mon 10-02-25 21:25; edited 1 time in total
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@stanton, has clearly moved on from winding up brits to obsessing over booze.
The studies would be more useful if they were looking at the number of people who had been involved in skiing accidents after drinking alcohol but I guess that is more difficult to do, getting the piste patrol to get folk to blow into bags might be challenging.
I do wonder if this is more of an "Austrian" thing than elsewhere, long time since I skied in France but sure we had beer every lunch time (though that would have been the case skiing or not!)
I can see there are places where this is an issue eg Paznauner Thaya in Ischgl where there is a substantial ski to get home and no realistic possibility of taxis. Encouraging drinking there seems to me to be irresponsible but the folk who run Ischgl dont care as long as the Euros roll in.
The apres spots in St Anton are slightly different as it is possible to get taxis and the "ski" home is short but still potentially dangerous (sadly fatalities are not unknown) and the lift company facilitate this by not piste bashing the relevant pistes until after 21:00. I believe that in France this would not happen as the bars etc close at 16:30ish?
Skiing is a holiday for most and for many Europeans drinking alcohol is part of being "on holiday". Discussions on that subject dont seem to have much to do with skiing....
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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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@munich_irish, I blocked @stanton years ago, so it's no surprise this is one of his clickbait posts. 
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I am just surprised it’s only 200,000
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You know it makes sense.
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| Quote: |
anybody else remember when it was considered normal to take a hip-flask out skiing with you?
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Yes  - last time I was on a Snowheads bash! Home made sloe gin, in small quantities, handed round between some ladies d'un certain age" . Before Covid. Nobody was shit-faced. Nobody bumped into anybody. And I might even have been listening to music on some of the runs.
Disgraceful..... though I don't think any of us drank any beer.
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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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It's funny because some of us come from a world where that is just not a thing. Drinking is what you do after you ski.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| RedandWhiteFlachau wrote: |
| Clickbait. 48% of accidents on piste occur between 10.30 and 12.00, when there are more people on piste and alcohol is (fairly) limited. It drops to 10% after 3pm when the boozers are trying to ski down and usually doesn't involve collisions with other skiers. |
That’s all the people who are still drunk from the night before having accidents at 10:30 
In seriousness, drinking and skiing is not a great combination. Are there any other sports where drinking while participating is the norm?
It is, I think and hope, becoming less acceptable to ski drunk. Someone causing an accident after drinking should have some consequences for them.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Quote: |
Someone causing an accident after drinking should have some consequences for them.
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I agree, but someone causing an accident, regardless of whether they've been drinking, should take the consequences. For most people, skiing is no more a "sport" than recreational sailing, or holiday swimming, or walking, is. Having a drink is not synonymous with being drunk!
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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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| Origen wrote: |
| Quote: |
Someone causing an accident after drinking should have some consequences for them.
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I agree, but someone causing an accident, regardless of whether they've been drinking, should take the consequences. For most people, skiing is no more a "sport" than recreational sailing, or holiday swimming, or walking, is. Having a drink is not synonymous with being drunk! |
Agree. Take your point, that’s how most see it. I would argue though that the other activities have much less potential for harming others whilst pissed
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@munich_irish, I’m in Andorra. Alcohol is served in restaurants/terraces on the piste but pretty much all bar one place is closed at 16:00 (and that closes at 17:00). I can’t remember ever seeing anyone too worse for wear. In fact apres in Andorra is slightly odd in that most people go back, get changed and then head out rather than stay out in ski kit.
It most definitely is a thing in Austria. Although where I’ve been never had masses of people skiing down after happy hour.
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Thu 13-02-25 8:27; edited 1 time in total
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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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| Origen wrote: |
| Quote: |
Someone causing an accident after drinking should have some consequences for them.
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I agree, but someone causing an accident, regardless of whether they've been drinking, should take the consequences. |
What “consequences” are you talking about, when someone hit a patch of ice and slide into someone else? 
Last edited by Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do. on Tue 11-02-25 0:12; edited 2 times in total
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I enjoy a nice glass of wine with lunch whilst skiing. I have occasionally been persuaded of the benefits of a ‘Cleansing Grappa’ as a good friend of mine christens it … as the mid morning accompaniment to an espresso.
I have also, on a few notorious occasions, definitely been worse for wear … but fortunately we all made it back down safely.
However, I don’t think I’ve ever previously seen the level of carnage on display at Folie Douce in Meribel last season. Some people were not even able to walk the 10m or so UP to the nearest gondola. The resort/bar/locals had provided ‘helpers’ to assist the insensible but the slope back down to the village was strewn with bodies. Miraculously no one seemed to get hurt … probably because most appeared to be younger and therefore more flexible and impact resistant. However, it did seem to be asking for trouble …
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Have always thought Paznauner Thaya in Ischgl is a odd place for a end of day drink. It is always busy late in the day though.
It is mostly an easy run back from there but you have to ski it.
I suspect most will have a beer or two then head down to the village.
Personally for Ischgl I will download via gondola if after about 3pm. Dump boots and then beer  .
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| skithesteelstealtheski wrote: |
| It's funny because some of us come from a world where that is just not a thing. Drinking is what you do after you ski. |
Would be interesting to compare it amongst regions and demographics. In Canada it was not that unusual to see younger guys cracking a beer open on a gondola. Smoking pot on the gondola was even more common and perhaps just as debilitating to performance - although maybe without the added confidence of alcohol.
My limited experience of France was pot way less common. The alcohol being drunk was mainly off the slopes in bars and more middle aged people.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Bit surprised about the low number.
In my view it's quite simple.
When apres-ski and getting drunk is your first priority, you go to Austria.
When actual skiing or snowboarding is your first priority, you go to France or Italy.
Based on 70 ski weeks, in AU FR IT CH ES.
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| hammerite wrote: |
@munich_irish, I’m in Andorra. Alcohol is served in restaurants/terraces on the piste but pretty much all bar one place is closed at 16:00 (and that closes at 17:00). I can’t remember ever seeing anyone too worse for wear. I fact apres in Andorra is slightly odd on that most people go back, get changed and then head out rather than stay out in ski kit.
It most definitely is a thing in Austria. Although where I’ve been never had masses of people skiing down after happy hour. |
Because as a broad rule the Latin/Romance cultures appreciate drinking but not getting drunk. The Anglo Saxon, Nordic, Slavic cultures drink specifically to get drunk.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Perhaps because most of my recent skiing has been in French places with very few Brits I've just not been aware of drunken skiers.
Someone so incapable they can't walk 10 meters to the gondola belongs in a cell. 
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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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@Chaletbeauroc, Well said.
Horses for courses really, but I do hate the holier than thou attitude of some. It's a holiday ferchristsakes. Let the young be young, we were once.
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| stanton wrote: |
According to a recent study, around 200,000 people have been active on Austria's ski slopes and toboggan runs under the influence of alcohol in the past year, according to the
Kuratorium für Verkehrssicherheit and Die Presse. |
So a quick Google suggests 2,960,000 people skied in Austria in 2020/21 (https://www.statista.com/statistics/801008/europe-number-of-people-skiing-by-country/) and it 200,000 of them were drunk that means only 6.75% of skiers were had consumed alcohol.
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You know it makes sense.
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| Chaletbeauroc wrote: |
@MajorQ, Bully for you. I've known a few people who do this, and my conclusion is always that they fear that they wouldn't be able to stop at one.
I sometimes like a pint around 12 ish, maybe another one with a late lunch. I'll also happily have a couple of pints over in Châtel of an evening and drive back, or maybe one and a couple of glasses of wine with dinner. All habits which I have no intention whatsoever of stopping.
TBH I think the drinking culture has always been there - anybody else remember when it was considered normal to take a hip-flask out skiing with you? If it's more of a problem nowadays I suspect that's more down to the sheer number of skiers than to the very few who get absolutely shitfaced and then ski home. |
I cannot believe you so brazenly admit drink driving. This is appalling behaviour and I very much hope you lose your licence soon.
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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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@monkey, how do you define "drink driving"? In the UK it's usually driving over the permitted blood alcohol limit.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Just stopped for a quick Weizen. Lovely!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Many sHs will already know this, but if you fancy a drink at lunchtime that isn't too strong you can order a Radler (known as a Panache in Switzerland, not sure what it's called in France). In English it's a shandy. 
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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It's called a panaché in France and, as I was taught by easiski, a small glass is called a "galopin". Charlotte also improved my skiing!!
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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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The Nederhutte in Obergurgl has a good scheme, they use the 'snow train' that they ferry kids around to ski school, as a drinkers taxi during their apres-ski session. It's just a snowmobile pulling some little carriages with skis on them. My wife sometimes used to use it after we consumed numerous beers and schnapps in there, though my son who was young at the time used to like to see if he could ski back to town faster than the snowmobile train so I used to accompany him.
In St Anton, despite the carnage when the moose and kk throw the last customers out around 8.30pm I've never seen an actual injury (though I know there has been a few), however I have seen lots of accidents during the day when people haven't been drinking but skiing far too fast for their ability - the latter is a much bigger concern than drunk skiers for me.
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Also if people are drunk before 4.30pm, then it's not 'apres-ski' in my mind, it's eating into valuable skiing time. I was surprised to read that the French Folie Douce places close at 5pm, I don't know how anyone can call that apres-ski. If I arrive somewhere like the Moose in St Anton before 5pm I don't feel like I've earned my beers yet ! Then there's another 3 hours to enjoy beer after that.
Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Tue 11-02-25 13:18; edited 1 time in total
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I don't generally drink as a matter of course when skiing. Makes me feel more tired for one thing. But having a lunchtime or afternoon beer on the deck or a Caffè correto seems very much complimentery to the experience.
Student typesshotgunning beers on chairlift at 10am is a bit more problematic.
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| Origen wrote: |
| @monkey, how do you define "drink driving"? In the UK it's usually driving over the permitted blood alcohol limit. |
I think anyone who will have 4 pints then drive is an absolute moron and I also believe they will be well over the legal limit in the UK or France. But frankly I think it's appalling behaviour whatever the breathalyzer reading is. If I saw someone doing that I'd absolutely shop them to the local police.
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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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| monkey wrote: |
| Origen wrote: |
| @monkey, how do you define "drink driving"? In the UK it's usually driving over the permitted blood alcohol limit. |
I think anyone who will have 4 pints then drive is an absolute moron and I also believe they will be well over the legal limit in the UK or France. But frankly I think it's appalling behaviour whatever the breathalyzer reading is. If I saw someone doing that I'd absolutely shop them to the local police. |
He DIDN'T say he drank four pints. He said he had two beers and, if one assumes over a 2-3 hour dinner, then at the end he would have negligible alcohol remaining (assuming average male). As a motorcyclist I'm very anti drink driving but I don't think we want to start accusing people of it when they said nothing of the sort.
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| Blackblade wrote: |
| monkey wrote: |
| Origen wrote: |
| @monkey, how do you define "drink driving"? In the UK it's usually driving over the permitted blood alcohol limit. |
I think anyone who will have 4 pints then drive is an absolute moron and I also believe they will be well over the legal limit in the UK or France. But frankly I think it's appalling behaviour whatever the breathalyzer reading is. If I saw someone doing that I'd absolutely shop them to the local police. |
He DIDN'T say he drank four pints. He said he had two beers and, if one assumes over a 2-3 hour dinner, then at the end he would have negligible alcohol remaining (assuming average male). As a motorcyclist I'm very anti drink driving but I don't think we want to start accusing people of it when they said nothing of the sort. |
Not interested in arguing about it but he said 2 at lunch and 2 at dinner = 4. Of course some alcohol is processed but i stand by my point that this is massively irresponsible behaviour and it is drink driving (and I also believe would have you over the limit in UK and france). You aren't going to change my mind on this. Anyone that behaves like this is a danger to themselves and others.
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FAQ
