France rolls out new rules for 'Happy Hours' in bars and pubs
Oliver Gee - [email protected]
Published: 19 Dec, 2016 CET.
Updated: Mon 19 Dec 2016 15:53 CET
The rules are about to be tightened on Happy Hours at bars around France, as authorities try to tackle "le binge drinking".
A new set of anti-drinking measures is being rolled out by France's health ministry, including a crackdown on happy hours.
The ministry said bars are now forbidden "from offering reduced priced alcoholic drinks for limited times (happy hours) without also offering cheaper non-alcoholic drinks during the same time period".
In other words, juices, soft drinks, and "virgin cocktails" would need to be be reduced as well as the beer, wine and alcoholic cocktails.
The new measures are especially aimed at reducing what the health ministry called "an alarming increase" of binge drinking among France's younger generation.
The ministry has put together a series of anti-drinking posters, which anyone selling alcohol (even online shops) will need to put up (see example below).
One of the posters explains that shopkeepers are now required to ask for IDs, whereas before this measure was only advisory.
The health ministry's crackdown will also see those under the age of 16 banned from places selling alcohol, unless they are accompanied by an adult.
A study last year found that 12 percent of 17-year-olds drink alcohol more than ten times a month.
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A new set of anti-drinking measures is being rolled out by France's health ministry, including a crackdown on happy hours.
The ministry said bars are now forbidden "from offering reduced priced alcoholic drinks for limited times (happy hours) without also offering cheaper non-alcoholic drinks during the same time period".
In other words, juices, soft drinks, and "virgin cocktails" would need to be be reduced as well as the beer, wine and alcoholic cocktails.
The new measures are especially aimed at reducing what the health ministry called "an alarming increase" of binge drinking among France's younger generation.
The ministry has put together a series of anti-drinking posters, which anyone selling alcohol (even online shops) will need to put up (see example below).
One of the posters explains that shopkeepers are now required to ask for IDs, whereas before this measure was only advisory.
The health ministry's crackdown will also see those under the age of 16 banned from places selling alcohol, unless they are accompanied by an adult.
A study last year found that 12 percent of 17-year-olds drink alcohol more than ten times a month.
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