Authorities are warning skiers about the dangers of drinking in resorts such as the Alps.

The campaign comes in the wake of the death in January of 20-year-old student Rachel Ward, a former pupil of The Girls’ Grammar School, Bradford.

Rachel, who was in the second year of a natural sciences degree at Durham University, was on a ski and snowboarding holiday in the resort of Val d’Isere when she died of hypothermia after falling in to the Isere River after a night out.

In light of the tragedy, the Foreign Office has begun educating Britons of the dangers of drinking at high altitudes.

Binge drinking while on a skiing holiday has become an increasing problem in the French Alps and the UK Government is keen to encourage safe drinking and holiday habits.

Sir Peter Westmacott, the British ambassador to France, said the UK would be launching a campaign to discourage binge drinking in conjunction with president of the Lyon Airport authority, Yves Guyon.

Flyers will be handed out in popular ski resorts outlining the dangers of binge drinking and with advice on holiday insurance.

The French Alps usually accommodates about one million Britons each winter.

Sir Peter said the number of youths in the French Alps on drinking holidays had been increasing, heightening the need to raise awareness on the dangers of drinking at high altitudes.

Tour operators such as Off the Piste – the company formerly known as On the Piste, with which Miss Ward was travelling – say they do all they can to ensure their on-site representatives are educated to the risks.

Authorities are advising skiers to drink responsibly, take on plenty of water to compensate for dehydration and to always wear warm clothing and sensible shoes when going out.