Vorarlberg’s police see no need for a fixed alcohol limit or alcohol ban on the slopes. “We have an acceptable situation here,” said Markus Greussing, head of the Alpine operations group Vorarlberg-Nord. On the whole, winter athletes adhered to the rules and regulations and did not lack respect for their counterparts, says Greussing.
In Vorarlberg, there is practically no problem that drunk skiers still ski down the slopes after après-ski and provoke dangerous situations. “In most ski areas there is no entertainment after the operating hours,” said Greussing. Where there is night operation – for example at toboggan runs – specially illuminated corridors are set up for the winter sports enthusiasts, while the rest of the slopes are closed off. So you can keep the danger low.
What skiers consume during the day in terms of alcohol is of course difficult to check and is the responsibility of the individual. Controls such as on the street do not give the current legal situation. “Unlike in road traffic, I cannot stop anyone on the slopes and oblige them to check for breath alcohol”, said Greussing. There is also no requirement for IDs for Austrians in Germany. So you could take people to the district administration to establish your identity, “but that would be an uncanny effort,” says Greussing. If he had a change request in terms of safety on the slopes, Greussing would not start with alcohol: “If I watch how many drive above their means, you should start there.”
Source: APA
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