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Boozers Sans Frontieres
The news that the British government is planning drastic action against teenage binge drinkers should come as no surprise. However, reports that French kids are adopting the boozy habits of their peers across the Channel has set alarm bells ringing in Paris.
This year's Interministerial Mission Against Drugs and Dependency has reported that while the number of 17 year olds who drink is falling, the number who claim to have been drunk more than ten times in the past year is rising fast: Up to 9.6 percent this year.
“Nearly one young person in two — 46 per cent — says that they drank more than five glasses of alcohol on a single occasion in the last 30 days: this type of consumption corresponds to the Anglo-Saxon notion of binge-drinking,” it adds.
While the French are at pains to point out that their boozy teens are well behind Brits when it comes to binge drinking, the report has caused much soul searching in a land which prides itself on its enlightened attitude to alcohol.
News reports featured complaints from students and teachers about pupils reporting to class after heavy nights, or even showing up drunk or stoned in the classroom. Bad behaviour in classrooms is one of France's major scare stories at present, partly thanks to a report circulating on the nation's most violent schools. Adding drunkeness to the problem will contribute to this latest crisis.
France has always been quite snooty about Northern European (and particularly British) drinking habits. The French identify drinking with a glass of fine wine or two at dinner, even though at formal dinners this glass or two can easily become a bottle or two, plus aperitifs, digestifs and so on.
While wine is still the most popular drink for older French citizens, the young are said to prefer pre-mixed drinks and even that bane of civilisation, the alcopop. Fizzy lemonade-style alcopops are reported to appeal particularly to teenage French girls.
Meanwhile back in the UK, The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs reports that half of British 15 year-olds are drinking at least once a week.
"Britain has higher rates of regular drinking and drunkenness among this age group than any other European and North American country except Denmark and Ireland," reports the Telegraph.
The Council has proposed a raft of measures to bring the UK's "binge-drinking" culture under control, including raised taxes on booze and a ban on advertising.
While the government was implemented the Council's recommendations in the past, it is difficult to see either of the above floating. While increased taxes on drinks might appeal to New Labour's puritanical streak, it would be hugely unpopular among moderate drinkers, who already fork out some of Europe's highest duty rates. Besides, as one commentator observed, there is nothing to prevent drinkers taking a van to France to stock up on cheaper booze.
As for advertising bans, this could take £200 million out of the advertising industry, but it would do more damage on a local and community level. Mark Hastings, a spokesman for the British Beer and Pub Association, told the Telegraph that an end to the association between alcohol and sport could finish sports clubs linked to pubs: "What about the pubs that back youth football teams and village cricket sides up and down the land?" he said.
Again, this government has a censorious streak, and a war on drinking could easily follow its campaign against smokers.
