Alcohol consumption in France: one more glass of French paradox

In France, excessive drinking is essentially an issue among men. More than four men vs. one woman out of ten are affected. Moreover, one in every two men between the age of 25 and 64 is an excessive drinker. Excessive drinking is less common among people living in a family, except when another member of the family drinks excessively. The links between excessive alcohol consumption and socio-economic status appear to be complex. Among women, the risk is significant for executives only, while among men it affects executives as well as blue collar workers, but is less frequent among employees. Persons who have experienced periods of social disadvantage during their lives, men working in intermediate professions, self employed, salespersons, executives and men with low income are more likely to have a chronic rather than an episodic consumption pattern. Finally the least well-off are most likely to be non-drinkers. These results are based on a general population survey which for the first time in France enables to identify excessive, moderate and non-drinking behaviours. n° 129 January 2008