Alcohol consumption remains a major public health issue in France, with significant health and social repercussions. It is responsible for 41,000 deaths each year, caused primarily by cancer, cardiovascular disease, and digestive disorders. It is linked to depression and psychiatric and neurological disorders, such as early-onset dementia. Alcohol is also a driver of violence, whether interpersonal or sexual.

This report from La Santé en action provides an overview of the current situation before exploring various approaches to prevention, both at the individual and collective levels.

Declining but still too high consumption levels

Overall consumption has declined in recent decades in France. Young French people are drinking slightly less, largely due to changing social norms and greater awareness of the risks associated with alcohol consumption. While alcohol use is more prevalent among men, there has been an increase in risky behaviors among women, particularly among college graduates. Because alcohol remains central to French culture, consumption levels remain high nonetheless. 
Multiple factors contribute to alcohol use disorders, as highlighted in several articles: gender inequalities, socioeconomic factors, the workplace, and childhood trauma. Among other things, the focus is on commercial factors—specifically, the alcohol industry’s marketing and influence strategies designed to encourage the purchase of alcoholic beverages, featuring attractive packaging and availability at all times and in numerous locations.

Reaching out to young people: a priority

These findings call for action to protect the health of everyone. Several interventions, proven to be effective, are particularly relevant for primary prevention, such as those that promote the development of psychosocial skills. Enhancing psychosocial skills is a recognized protective factor against addiction. One article describes the strategy implemented in the Loiret and Cher departments by the Apléat-Acep association and the Centre-Val de Loire regional health agency to offer age-appropriate programs, from preschool through high school. Other contributions explore possible interventions for adolescents and young adults, a life stage marked by a search for thrills and strong peer influence. At the Lille University Hospital, 15- to 25-year-olds admitted to the emergency room for severe intoxication are offered a consultation with a nurse specializing in addiction and telephone support for several weeks, with the goal of preventing a recurrence of risky substance use. 

Many stakeholders are involved 

Nonprofit organizations are active on several fronts. They are the driving force behind France’s “Défi de janvier,” a variation on the British “Dry January” initiative, which encourages abstinence for one month. An article details the results of a study demonstrating the effectiveness of this social marketing initiative, which gains more followers each year, particularly among 18- to 35-year-olds: indeed, eight months later, 58% of participants are drinking less alcohol. For its part, the organization Addictions France is fighting against controversial content on social media, where alcohol companies rely on influencers to promote their products, thereby circumventing the Evin Law.
Healthcare professionals, particularly general practitioners, have a role to play in the early identification of risky drinking during consultations with their patients. From harm reduction to treatment, resources are available to support people struggling with alcohol, whether through self-help groups or the Alcool Info Service. 

While preventing alcohol consumption is everyone’s responsibility, it must be supported by ambitious public policies. Measures such as increasing taxes—and thus the price of alcohol—or clearly labeling health risks on containers are strongly recommended by the World Health Organization, which is interviewed in this report.