Alcohol: despite the general decline, a report points to the increase in excesses among women

A general decline… except among women. A study by Public Health France, published this Tuesday, January 23, shows that the alcohol consumption of the French has generally continued to decline for decades, despite a few exceptions.

Public authorities mention in particular a “very marked drop in daily consumption”, which corresponds to “the drop in sales volumes”. The share of daily consumers has in fact increased from 21.5% in 2000 to 8.0% in 2021, when the proportion of weekly consumers has fallen, over the same period, from 62.6% to 39%.

This general decline must, however, be qualified because of the maintenance, or even increase, of heavy occasional drinking (IPA) - or binge drinking -, defined by the consumption of at least six glasses of alcohol on a single occasion. While the proportion of men aged 18 to 75 who have had APIs, whatever the frequency, remains stable overall, it is increasing among women. Their share declaring having had an API at least once in the year increased from 21.4% to 23% between 2017 and 2021, and from 7.6% to 8.6%, over the same period, for those who claim to have an API at least once a month.

The report above all points to a particular increase - although slight - in the share of women over 55 who report having API, whatever the frequency. The share of women aged 55 to 64 declaring having an API each month, for example, increased from 3.80% in 2017 to 5.30% in 2021. We also find different trends depending on the sexes, concerning the consumption of weekly alcohol. Over the recent period (2017-2021), the proportion of men consuming alcohol every week has decreased (52.7% to 50.5%) while that of women has remained stable (28.0% to 28 .1%).

The study thus confirms “the rapprochement in behavior between men and women observed for many years”. Because if men remain heavier consumers of alcohol, women, by modifying some of their behaviors, are getting closer. To explain this trend, public authorities cite “major societal developments”, such as the increase in the age of first marriage or first child. She also cites the growing proportion of working women or the alcohol industry's marketing aimed at female audiences.

“This increase is a point of alert but the problem of occasional heavy drinking remains ever more widespread among men,” explained Viêt Nguyen-Thanh, co-author of the study, to AFP. For Public Health France, “the implementation of preventive actions to reduce the risks induced by alcohol consumption” therefore remains “necessary”. The agency also mentions the ministerial strategy for mobilization against addictive behavior 2023-2027.