Alcohol consumption: Where do you stand?
Weekly alcohol consumption, drinking habits, social pressure… Santé publique France has released a series of short videos showing the reactions of four different types of drinkers upon learning how much alcohol they consumed in a week.
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Alcohol Consumption in France: Toward a Goal of Denormalization
Although it has been declining for several decades, alcohol plays a significant role in the daily lives of the French. According to the 2017 Health Barometer, nearly one in two French people believed that offering alcohol or drinking it “was part of good manners.”
Without denying the social aspect it can have, it is necessary to recognize that alcohol is harmful to health, that it is not a given, and that its consumption should not be trivialized. The medium- and long-term risks it poses are still downplayed by the French, and the environment surrounding alcohol remains highly conducive to its consumption (high exposure to advertising, widespread availability of the product, social pressure).
In this context, Santé publique France is rolling out a year-round social marketing campaign aimed at de-normalizing alcohol consumption.
In videos: changing public perceptions to normalize alcohol consumption
First launched in November 2021 in partnership with influencer Fabien Olicard, this influencer campaign aimed to encourage people to reflect on their own drinking habits. For this re-release, four short videos address different themes:
the guests’ reactions to the “amount” of alcohol consumed in a week
“social pressure” felt by participants justifying some of their drinking, with an encouragement to say “NO”
the “automatic nature” of certain drinking habits, with an encouragement to become aware of one’s consumption and to test it on a breathalyzer
Videos: An experiment on the topic of alcohol
Alcool : une expérience particulièrement intéressante
L’alcool difficile de dire non ?
L’alcool, un automatisme ?
L’alcool et la pression sociale
The Alcohol Program: A Key Focus of Santé publique France’s Work
The various initiatives undertaken by Santé publique France to reduce the burden of alcohol in France are part of the National Public Health Plan: Priority Prevention, the 2018–2022 National Plan for Mobilization Against Addictions by the Interministerial Mission for the Fight Against Drugs and Addictive Behaviors (MILDECA), and the 2021–2030 Ten-Year Strategy for the Fight Against Cancer.
The Agency produces both observational and surveillance data by measuring the population’s alcohol consumption behaviors (notably through barometer surveys), as well as national prevention initiatives tailored to different audiences (for example: awareness campaigns targeting young people, “Friends at Night Too,” or pregnant women, “As a Precaution: Zero Alcohol During Pregnancy”).
The goal for Santé publique France is to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with alcohol consumption in France by lowering the proportion of French people who consume alcohol beyond the guidelines for lower-risk consumption.
Alcohol means a maximum of 2 drinks per day, and not every day
In 2017, scientific research conducted by Santé publique France and the National Cancer Institute led to the development of new guidelines for lower-risk consumption: if you drink alcohol, no more than 10 drinks per week, no more than 2 drinks per day, and days during the week without drinking.
These guidelines now allow French people to make an informed choice about lower-risk consumption for their health, knowing that the health risks of alcohol consumption begin with the very first drink.
According to data from the Santé publique France Barometer, in 2020, 23.7% of the population aged 18 to 75 exceeded the alcohol consumption guidelines. This risky drinking was more common among men (33.5% of them) than among women (14.9%).
A tool to assess your consumption and the associated risks
Public Health France has developed a new alcohol meter that allows users, through a few questions, to assess their weekly alcohol consumption against the new guidelines and estimate the risks associated with that consumption. It is available on the homepage of the website www.alcool-info-service.fr, which also offers information, discussion forums, and remote support services.
Alcool-info-service.fr: the go-to website for information and support
This remote support service offers both those affected and their loved ones a confidential listening service via a hotline at 0 980 980 930 and a chat service staffed by qualified professionals. The site provides the public with a wealth of information and tools, such as an alcohol meter to assess one’s alcohol consumption and a national directory of specialized addiction treatment centers. The site also features a section dedicated to young people and another for healthcare professionals.
Alcohol
thematic dossier
Alcohol is deeply rooted in French culture. Its consumption remains a major cause of death and illness in France.
