Binge drinking in France
At night this popular tourist attraction is taken over by local teenagers and young adults who come here to party and get drunk. At 2 AM there are dozens of people on the bridge and everyone is drinking. This 17 year old is celebrating a friend’s birthday with several bottles of wine. Until recently, most people here believed French youth, raised on wine at home, were immune to drinking themselves into oblivion. But research suggests in the last few years there’s been a dramatic increase in binge drinking in France. The students at this high school say they’re the target of aggressive marketing. This 18 year old says alcohol is everywhere. Under proposed new restrictions, open bars would be outlawed and it would raise the legal buying age of alcohol from 16 to 18. most observers say the new law wouldn’t change much because wine and alcohol are such an integral part of French culture that people still don’t recognize its potential dangers. This politician says education in addition to a change in laws is needed. Most young people say the new laws wouldn’t stop them from drinking.
The story you just read is available to read for free because thousands of listeners and readers like you generously support our nonprofit newsroom. Every day, the reporters and producers at The World are hard at work bringing you human-centered news from across the globe. But we can’t do it without you: We need your support to ensure we can continue this work for another year.
When you make a gift of $10 or more a month, we’ll invite you to a virtual behind-the-scenes tour of our newsroom to thank you for being with The World.