The French government has proposed a series of measures aimed at cracking down on youth drinking.

These meaures, proposed by Minister of Health Roselyne Bachelot, include the prevention of sales of alcohol to under 18s, the removal of any alcoholic drinks in petrol service stations, and the end of ‘open bars’ – which charge entry but serve free drinks – for students.

Until now, the sale of alcohol to 16-year-olds in France has been allowable for certain types of alcohol, in certain types of outlets. This will now be forbidden to any minor.

Many of the measures, such as ending open bars, have been welcomed, although others are not so popular.

The attempt to reduce the 4,600 road fatalities per year by banning alcohol sales in petrol stations has not gone down well with proprietors, for whom alcohol represents two thirds of their non-fuel turnover.

The Ministry of Health said the measures would be adopted in January 2009.

Written by Jane Anson in Bordeaux

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Jane Anson
Jane Anson

Jane Anson was Decanter’s Bordeaux correspondent until 2021 and has lived in the region since 2003. She writes a monthly wine column for Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post, and is the author of Bordeaux Legends: The 1855 First Growth Wines (also published in French as Elixirs). In addition, she has contributed to the Michelin guide to the Wine Regions of France and was the Bordeaux and Southwest France author of The Wine Opus and 1000 Great Wines That Won’t Cost a Fortune. An accredited wine teacher at the Bordeaux École du Vin, Anson holds a masters in publishing from University College London, and a tasting diploma from the Bordeaux faculty of oenology.

Roederer awards 2016: International Feature Writer of the Year