'Decline in French Civilization'

[Evil Eye]

Does the seemingly perpetual decline in consumption of France's national drink symbolise a corresponding decline in French civilisation?



The question worries a lot of people - oenophiles, cultural commentators, flag-wavers for French exceptionalism - all of whom have watched with consternation the gradual disappearance of wine from the national dinner table.



Recent figures merely confirm what has been observed for years, that the number of regular drinkers of wine in France is in freefall.



In 1980 more than half of adults were consuming wine on a near-daily basis. Today that figure has fallen to 17%.



Meanwhile, the proportion of French people who never drink wine at all has doubled to 38%.



In 1965, the amount of wine consumed per head of population was 160 litres a year. In 2010 that had fallen to 57 litres, and will most likely dip to no more than 30 litres in the years ahead.



At dinner, wine is the third most popular drink after tap and bottled water. Sodas and fruit juices are catching up fast and are now just a short way behind.

Full article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21929287





I would never have imagined anyone calling a reduction in the level of alcohol consumption a decline in civilization

They touch on an interesting change in attitude towards various things though.

 

[DrLeftover]

They're French.

 

[Evil Eye]

Yes, that would appear to be the only appropriate response.

 

[Fatal Dawn]

Full article: http://www.bbc.co.uk...gazine-21929287





I would never have imagined anyone calling a reduction in the level of alcohol consumption a decline in civilization

You have to undertand the importance of food in French culture. The French don't drink wine to get drunk.

 

[Evil Eye]

The French don't drink wine to get drunk.

I realise that, but it seems like a bit of an overreaction.