Travel insurance: Cover lost due to booze
Boozy Britons holiday insurance warning
Tuesday, 02 Oct 2007 09:04
Britons are being warned their £4.5 billion holiday binge could cost them far more than just a hangover and some soggy memories.
In total Brits spend $4.5 billion on alcohol while on holiday, according to new research by moneysupermarket.com, but being inebriated could leave them uninsured in the event of an accident.
On average British men and women spend £100 and £70 respectively on alcohol when on holiday, but not a single insurance company will pay out on a claim if an accident occurs when someone is drunk.
"In most cases, there is no way the insurer will know if your claim is as a result of you having too much to drink. However, if your insurer does find out, for example if it is included in a medical report when an injury is treated, they could void your claim," said Peter Gerrard, head of insurance research at moneysupermarket.
"It is a little known fact that travel insurance policies have a clause stating if you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of an incident, your policy may be rendered invalid. Enjoying a drink on holiday is not a crime, but it is extremely important that people try to be sensible about alcohol consumption."
Most travel insurance firms are quite explicit about not covering accidents of those trying to claim have drunk too much.
Halifax states in its travel insurance policies: "The policy does not cover any claim directly or indirectly resulting from the misuse of alcohol or being under the influence of alcohol."
Other insurers follow similar wording in their policies.
Figures from Churchill show that 20 per cent of British holidaymakers still travel without insurance, leaving them open to sizable expenses in the event of an accident.