France in ‘denial’ about alcoholism, says minister

The French health minister has called the debate over amendments to French alcohol marketing policy “completely crazy” due to the “denial” surrounding alcohol abuse.

A study found that French people consume, on average, 12 litres of pure alcohol a year

The proposal of an amendment to “Evin’s law” – which restricts alcohol and tobacco advertising across France – would make it easier for alcohol advertisers to market their products, leading to what Touraine has labelled “disguised advertising”.

“Evin’s law”makes it illegal to advertise alcohol over 1.2% abv at young people, on television and in cinemas, or for brands to sponsor cultural or sports events.

But the amendment would now force anyone filing a complaint about an ad to prove that the person speaking about the product has a “personal interest” in promoting it, and that the wording is “susceptible to be perceived by a consumer with an average attention-span”.

Touraine told France24: “The current debate is completely crazy. I’m not demanding that the law be stricter, only to leave it alone. And I don’t know if I’ll succeed because the wine and alcohol lobby in France is stronger that the public health lobby.”

Touraine said figures from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development revealed that French people consume, on average, 12 litres of pure alcohol a year, compared with a European average of 9.1 litres.

She added: “There is a kind of denial [about alcohol abuse]. We drink less than 30 years ago, but still above the European average.”
Earlier this month, Lobby group Eurocare called for the protection of Evin’s Law, while Claude Evin, who drew up the legislation in 1991, warned letting the amendment to go ahead will allow companies to “do anything they like”.