New bill targets skiers under influence of alcohol or drugs

Skiers and other mountain users who take to the slopes when under the influence of alcohol or drugs will soon receive harsher punishments, if a new bill is successfully voted through parliament.

MP Christelle d’Intorni is proposing the new sanctions, which would also target users of nitrous oxide (laughing gas), and strengthen rules on wearing helmets when on the slopes.

The bill looks to “close a legal loophole”, and outlaw any use of the slopes (particularly skiing and snowboarding) while under the influence of psychoactive substances, in a bid to make the pistes safer. 

Currently, there is little-to-no monitoring of alcohol or drug levels on the slopes, and no legal penalties for skiing under the influence of psychoactive substances (although the International Ski Federation (ISF) does advise users to follow 10 major principles as part of its Code de la Glisse, and under a more general law anyone who is found to be drunk in public and behaving in a dangerous manner as a result already risks a fine.

Ski stations can also display their own rules and signs for anti-alcohol and drug campaigns.

The text is set to be examined before June 2026, and Ms d’Intorni is hoping to gather more cross-party support in the meantime.

“Of course, the mountains are a place of freedom, but this is a risky sport, and this bill takes into account the evolution of society,” she told France 3, anticipating that there may be some push-back from MPs who fear that too many rules will limit personal freedom.

Suggested new rules and penalities

The text was finalised after consultation with industry professionals, including mayors of ski station towns, local gendarmerie, and specialist mountain rescuers at the PGHM (Peloton de Gendarmerie de Haute Montagne).

The bill lays out new rules and penalties, including:

• A ban on skiing under the influence of alcohol or drugs

• Anyone found doing so will be subject to a fine of €135, increased to €9,000 and four years in jail in the event of a repeat offence within five years

• Cancellation of their ski pass and access to the ski slopes without a refund

There are also specific penalties in the event of an accident: 

• A €45,000 fine and three years imprisonment in the event of severe injury

• A €75,000 fine and five years imprisonment in the event of a fatal accident (as well as any other sanctions that already exist under law).

Initially, the bill did not mention nitrous oxide, but Ms d’Intorni added this detail (as well as alcohol and other drugs) after cases involving the substance continued to rise. 

For example, in January this year, an investigation by customs authorities saw the dismantling of a major nitrous oxide distribution network, in which 6,000 bottles were seized at Les Arcs ski station in Savoie.

Other safety rules

The proposed bill would also require anyone skiing, snowboarding or sledding to wear a helmet, under pain of a fine of €135.

Ms d’Intorni has taken inspiration from Italy, where it has been compulsory to wear a helmet since November 1, 2025. Fines range from €100, and skiers can have their mountain pass revoked in the event of a repeat offence.

“My aim is to standardise the mandatory wearing of helmets. In Italy, it is already mandatory. Helmets reduce head trauma by 60%,” Ms d’Intorni said.

Helmets are already required for ski lessons run by ESF (Ecole de Ski Français), and some resorts also require them for adults. Ms d’Intorni wants to standardise the rules nationwide, and also give police the authority to fine non-compliant users on the spot.

The law would also provide for a new campaign to raise awareness of injury prevention and the dangers of drug and alcohol use while on the mountain.

‘Protect yourself and others’

Ms d’Intorni was herself born in the Tinée valley, 15km away from the La Colmaine ski station in Alpes-Maritimes (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur). 

“As a mother and skier, I am concerned about skiing. These behaviours are extremely dangerous,” she said. “You have to know how to protect yourself and others."

It comes after mountain emergency rescue services treated 54,000 people for skiing-related injuries last season, up 7% on the previous year, with drugs and alcohol use often a contributing factor to accidents.

Ms d’Intorini said that her calculations suggest that more than 25% of skiing accidents involve someone who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. 

She also added that ski accidents can be very serious, as 10-15% of ski accidents require urgent medical assistance (and very often also require hospitalisation), and around 3% of incidents involve severe head injury.