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France 2 Airs Prime-Time Documentary ‘Boire’ Examining France’s Alcohol Culture

With testimonies alongside archival footage, the film recasts long‑normalized drinking as a pressing public‑health issue.

Overview

  • France 2 is broadcasting Boire at 21:10, followed by a live discussion hosted by Carole Gaessler.
  • Public‑health data cited in the film point to roughly 41,000 alcohol‑attributable deaths each year in France and a major role in cancers, strokes and domestic violence.
  • First‑person accounts detail dependence, family harm and alcohol‑related sexual assault, with one in five 18–24‑year‑olds reporting a non‑consensual encounter linked to drinking.
  • Archival clips show how alcohol was woven into daily life—wine in school canteens until 1956, leaders toasting on camera—while the director notes a visible shift toward sobriety.
  • The documentary examines lobbying’s impact on prevention language, including the “À consommer avec modération” tagline and pressure on a 2023 Santé publique France campaign under the Loi Évin framework.