Drinking May Put Your Travel Insurance Claims at Risk
Author: Jean Andrewsbr
Source: ezinearticles.combr
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When that long-awaited holiday arrives it is perfectly natural to want to let your hair down, relax, and even indulge in a few more drinks than normal. So… Whats the problem?
Lets suppose you go out for dinner and get smashed. In drunken exuberance you get up and dance naked on the table as everyone claps and cheers, and then fall off and break your leg. It could end up costing a lot more than just your pride!
Youve taken out travel insurance to cover any mishaps during your trip so theres nothing to worry about, right? Wrong!
Surveys have shown that a large number of travellers go off on holiday woozily unaware that indulging in excessive drinking could give them more than just a bad hangover. If the drinking leads to an accident or incident, perhaps causing serious injuries or having all their valuables stolen, any resulting travel insurance claims may be denied.
Intoxication could be related to the use of alcohol or any illegal substance. However, claim statistics have shown that alcohol is the main culprit causing problems for many holidaymakers. If there is any question of a travel insurance claim being directly or indirectly related to intoxication it will be thoroughly investigated. Medical and police reports include evidence of intoxication – and dont forget the ever-present CCTV!
So, what do you do if you want to indulge in some serious partying? Hen and stag parties abroad are very popular, but usually involve heavy drinking. The harsh truth is that you are taking a risk and may end up having to cover the cost of any resulting problems out of your own pocket.
If you make the decision to drink on holiday, a few suggestions
· Drink slowly – avoid guzzling alcoholic drinks – take your time
· Avoid the temptation to chug shooters or weird cocktails on a dare
· Avoid drinking alcohol on an empty stomach
· Avoid hard liquor and mixing drinks
· Order a jug of water or soft drinks for the table to cut down on alcohol intake
· Drink wine spritzers to make that bottle of wine last longer
So, you may ask, why do I need to buy travel insurance? Travel insurance is very important and it does the job it is designed to do, but it should never be viewed as an excuse to act irresponsibly and then expect someone else to clean up and pay for the mess. It is wise to remember that you should always behave as if not insured – and not deliberately or willingly expose yourself to danger.
Your friends may think it funny if you get so drunk that you forget who you are or where your hotel is (we wont even mention losing the rental car…) but getting into such a state could be disastrous if an accident results.
Heavy drinking affects the senses and judgment, sometimes resulting in aggressive behaviour and even fights and injuries. Apart from physical injuries, excessive alcohol consumption can also lead to alcohol poisoning, coma, and other serious medical problems – which may all result in a hefty hospital bill, or worse. In some parts of the world you could end up in prison!
Depending on where you are in the world a broken leg could cost several hundred pounds per day in hospital fees. If an air ambulance is required or medical repatriation is required to get you back home it could rack up to thousands of pounds – even tens of thousands.
If you plan to participate in any sporting activities such as skiing, snowboarding or water skiing, abstain from drinking – or wait until you are completely sober before even considering renting those jet skis!
So, how much drinking can you get away with for your travel insurance to cover you? Well, the answer is not clear and may even vary between insurers. Claims are handled on a case to case basis so all factors are taken into consideration. The best policy is to stay in control and, if you must indulge, keep your drinking to a minimum. Your ability to handle alcohol may also be affected by whether you drink on an empty stomach as well as your weight and gender. Drinking at altitude may also heighten the effects of alcohol.
Remember that taking out travel insurance is not a ticket to giving up all responsibility for your actions. If you should sustain injuries while intoxicated and end up in hospital you may be too numb to feel the pain. However, once you sober up and are faced with the bill for your treatment there may be no painkiller on earth strong enough to take away the pain in your wallet!
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pJean Andrews is a freelance writer living in the UK. She regularly contributes articles for Travel Insurance Agencies Ltd who offer great deals on a target=_new href=http://www.travel-insurance.net/ rel=nofollowUK Travel Insurance/a and a target=_new href=http://www.travelinsurance.ie/ rel=nofollowTravel Insurance/a for residents of Eire./pbr
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