A third of the French drink more than they should

Do the French drink too much? Some of them, according to data from a survey conducted by BVA for the League against cancer, that Sunday Newspaper unveils. Indeed, according to this study, 31% of respondents admit to exceeding the threshold recommended by Public Health France. As a reminder, these establish a maximum alcohol consumption of two drinks per day (not every day) or ten drinks per week.

Among these 31% who would exceed the recommended thresholds, 20% are men and 11% women, and the majority (16%) are over 50 years old. 3% admit to exceeding them among 18-24 year olds, 4% among 25-34 year olds and 8% among 35-49 year olds. A majority of them are also “inactive” and live in Île-de-France (6%). This survey also reveals that the Covid-19 pandemic has not helped the French to reduce their alcohol consumption, on the contrary. It increased by 17% among all respondents, notes the JDD, a very high percentage among young people (28% in the 18-24 age group).

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Beginning of “Dry January”, alcohol-free month

According to Emmanuel Ricard, the delegate for the prevention and promotion of screening of the League against cancer, interviewed by our colleagues, it is the people “dependent or not tolerating isolation” who are the most affected and who have increased their dependence . On the other hand, “the confinements limited the consumption of people who had sociable alcohol,” he concedes. He adds: “In a context of unease, people tend to take alcohol as a crutch.”

Except that even if drinking one or two glasses more than the authorized thresholds may seem trivial, this can lead to addictions, fears Emmanuel Ricard. While the challenge of “Dry January”, a month without alcohol begins, 35% of those questioned say they are ready to follow it. The League against cancer wants to avoid any risk of “trivialization” and warns: “Many people identify a risk from two or three glasses, while alcohol is toxic from the first drink”, reminds Emmanuel Ricard.