As Poles gear up for the winter skiing season, MPs want to tighten up laws to control hooliganism and drunkenness on the ski slopes.

“MPs want to create a law that would allow more effective control of ski hooligans and people skiing under influence of alcohol or drugs,” Piotr van der Coghen (Civic Platform), the head of an emergency parliamentary subcommittee on safety and rescue in skiing resorts told the Rzeczpospolita daily.

“At the moment, skiing under the influence of alcohol remains unpunished, even when this is the cause of an accident. Police will have the right to breathalyse anyone causing an accident and they will be subject to the criminal code,” the MP says.

Politicians also want the compulsory wearing of helmets for minors. Children without them will not be allowed on the slopes.

The new law will also regulate the training of ski and mountaineering instructors. (pg)