Getting drunk in a ski town is easy. If you live in one, you’re probably never more than a few feet from a happy hour, beer festival or hot tub party. Nearly always, the brewskies happen at aprés when you’re still buzzing from a long day if getting freshies on the hill, but sometimes they come along with you in the pocket of your ski jacket so you can crack a cold one right before dropping into your favorite powder stash. Getting sober in a ski town, however, is a different story.
Despite trends across America, Europe and Australia indicating that young people are drinking less than previous generations, alcohol abuse is still very much alive and kicking in ski towns. A 2017 study of Swedish ski resort employees found a high prevalence of risky alcohol consumption compared to the general population, with social aspects such as having roommates, co-workers and friends who are often inebriated identified as important contributing factors.
