Introduction. The law of July 21, 2009 raised the age limit for the general prohibition on alcohol sales to 18. A survey conducted in 2012 sought to assess the implementation of this law, particularly by comparing it with a similar survey conducted in 2005. Method. The 2012 survey was conducted using a questionnaire identical to that of 2005. It yielded responses from 1,008 establishments involved in the sale of alcohol. The sample was constructed using stratified random sampling with adjustments based on national business census data. Results. In 2012, the proportion of establishments reporting a practice other than refusing to sell alcohol to those under 18 was 17% in small establishments, regardless of the sales method, and 6.4% in large and medium-sized stores. Compared to 2005, progress in compliance with the law was particularly significant for take-out establishments. Discussion. Compliance among takeout establishments is higher than among cafés and bars. However, only large retail chains achieve a high level of consistency. Conclusion. The 2009 law has led to a tightening of knowledge and practices around a more stringent standard. Enforcement failures are now better identified. (R.A.)