Churchill Insurance warns against skiing piste

A quarter of skiers are ignoring new 'drunken skiing' fines, according to Churchill Travel Insurance.

'Piste police' are patrolling the slopes this season in an attempt to reduce the amount of accidents occurring as a result of skiers out after a few drinks.

The newly installed ski marshals in Italy and Austria will be breathalysing and fining skiers found to be drunk on the slopes.

But research revealed that 23 per cent of skiers say the new laws would not stop them drinking.

The head of Churchill Travel Insurance, Paul Whymark, said: "Our research shows that Brits are not taking the dangers of drinking and skiing seriously."

The insurer's research reveals half of skiers believe that drinking is an integral part of any skiing holiday.

However, a sensible 34 per cent leave drinking until the end of the day, while a hardcore 15 per cent declare that they drink at lunchtime and throughout the day.

The new regulations in Italy last season led to a ten per cent reduction in the number of accidents.