French Lawmakers Ease Licensing Rules to Reopen Rural Bistros

A new bill aims to revitalize rural communities by simplifying the process for obtaining alcohol licenses, while strengthening local control.

The French National Assembly has passed a bill to simplify the issuance of 'licences IV,' permitting the sale of strong alcoholic beverages in towns with fewer than 3,500 residents that currently lack such establishments.
The legislation seeks to address the sharp decline in rural bistros, which have dropped from 200,000 in the 1960s to fewer than 35,000 today, leaving many small towns without social or commercial hubs.
An amendment grants mayors greater authority over the approval and transfer of these licenses to ensure local control and prevent misuse or speculative resales to larger towns.
Supporters highlight the economic and social benefits of bistros in fostering community connections, while critics raise concerns about public health risks, citing alcohol-related deaths in France.
The bill, which enjoyed near-unanimous support in the Assembly, will now move to the Senate for further deliberation and potential implementation by summer 2025.