In France, alcohol consumption remains a major cause of mortality and morbidity. The consequences of alcohol consumption can be short-term (car accidents, psychosocial risks, etc.) as well as medium- and long-term. In particular, alcohol is the second leading lifestyle- and environment-related risk factor for cancer.

Positive attitudes toward alcohol remain deeply ingrained in French society and hinder awareness of these risks and behavioral change. 
According to the 2024 Santé publique France Barometer, 22% of adults report drinking above the low-risk consumption guidelines over the past seven days (30% of men and 15% of women). 

Guidelines for lower-risk alcohol consumption: a maximum of two standard drinks per day, at least two alcohol-free days, and a maximum of ten standard drinks per week." data-tooltip-title="" data-tooltip-content="Guidelines for low-risk alcohol consumption: a maximum of two standard drinks per day, at least 2 alcohol-free days, and a maximum of ten standard drinks per week." data-tooltip-placeholder-is-selection="false" data-tooltip-placeholder-is-selection-text="" data-tooltip-data="[{"tooltipTitle":"","tooltipContent":"Guidelines for low-risk alcohol consumption ’alcohol at the lowest risk : a maximum of two standard drinks per day, a minimum of 2 days without alcohol, and a maximum of ten standard drinks per week.","placeholderIsSelection":"false","placeholderIsSelectionText":""}]">iThese scientific findings underscore the need to strengthen prevention efforts in order to reduce the proportion of drinkers exceeding the low-risk guidelines and to lessen the health impact of alcohol consumption in France. Since its creation, the agency has worked to improve understanding of the risks and guidelines, create a more favorable environment for reducing alcohol consumption, and generate scientific knowledge to monitor drinking behaviors and estimate the burden of alcohol consumption in France.

Alcoomètre: A Self-Assessment Tool for the General Public

Available since 2010 and updated in 2019 with the low-risk consumption guidelines established according to the expert opinion published in 2017, the Alcoomètre is a digital tool developed on the alcool-info-service.fr website. It allows anyone to assess their alcohol consumption anonymously, quickly, and free of charge.

It works simply:

• A questionnaire asks the user to indicate the amounts of alcohol consumed over the past week, day by day.
• A personalized report is then generated. It compares the user’s consumption to low-risk consumption guidelines, as well as to that of a similar reference group (gender, age). Any potential health risks associated with the reported consumption are also indicated.

The goal for Santé publique France is to enable everyone to make an informed choice about drinking in a way that minimizes health risks, even in environments that may encourage alcohol consumption. Alongside other tools from Alcool info service, the alcohol meter contributes to the agency’s goals of raising awareness about the risks associated with alcohol, disseminating consumption guidelines to the public, and encouraging everyone to reflect on their drinking habits.

A Scientific Approach to Effective Prevention Efforts

The prevention initiatives carried out or promoted by Santé publique France are grounded in science to ensure their effectiveness. As part of its missions, the agency identifies effective, promising, or innovative programs in the areas of prevention and health promotion, and makes them available through its Reperprev registry. To develop prevention campaigns and then measure their impact, a review of the scientific literature is conducted, and several evaluations are carried out. Assessing usage of the Alcoomètre—a tool whose effectiveness has been demonstrated and which is regularly highlighted in alcohol prevention campaigns—is part of this process.

An analysis of six years of Alcoomètre activity shows significant interest among users in this online self-assessment tool. Its use is strongly linked to the promotion of the Alcool Info Service website or the tool itself (prevention campaigns, ongoing digital communication strategies). Between 2019 and 2024, it recorded more than two million uses, with a user base that was predominantly male and exceeded the low-risk thresholds. This finding confirms both the tool’s ability to appeal to consumers who take risks and the effectiveness of the targeting of the campaigns run during this period. 

Alcool-info-service.fr: A resource site to answer all your questions

The Alcool-info-service.fr information website is designed for anyone with questions about alcohol or looking for advice or help. In 2024, it was completely redesigned to improve the user experience and make information and advice more accessible. While maintaining a positive and engaging tone to encourage reflection and change, the site has been enriched with new content and formats, such as podcasts and personal stories.

Several channels are available for interacting with professionals in the field: forums, a chat feature, and an anonymous helpline that offers a supportive space for listening, information, advice, and guidance: 0 980 980 930 (no surcharge, open 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m.). 

In addition to the resources available on this remote support website, Santé publique France offers communication materials tailored to different audiences in its Alcohol section.