2023-12-18 20:00:12
On the eve of the end of year festivities, when wine and champagne will be on the table of many French families, a survey published this Monday (18) reveals that the majority of parents in France let or would let their underage children try alcoholic beverages . Dangerous behavior, experts warn.
Published on: 18/12/2023 – 19:00
3 min
According to an analysis carried out by the research company OpinionWay and commissioned by the French association League Against Cancer, 70% of people interviewed think it is normal to let their teenage children try alcoholic drinks before they turn 18. According to the study, 30% of parents would also let teenagers under 15 try it.
When commissioning the research, the League Against Cancer expected results that would confirm the commonality of alcohol among young people, but not in such proportions.
Dr. Emmanuel Ricard, spokesperson for the association, warns about the harm of alcohol on younger generations.
“The earlier we start, the more the brain creates a habit, an appetite, a desire to use it,” he says. “When you start early, the organs are not fully formed, they are being built, and therefore the effects of alcohol are increased”, he warns, in an interview with France Inter radio.
The research is published 15 days before the start of “dry january”, which consists of stopping the consumption of alcoholic beverages throughout the month of January.
The fifth edition, which will take place in 2024, does not have the support of the French Ministry of Health. Questioned on Saturday (16) by France Inter, the Minister of Agriculture, Marc Fesneau, seemed unconvinced by the challenge. He advocated “moderation rather than prohibition.”
Ambiguous position
The minister’s position is not surprising. President Emmanuel Macron himself has a carefree attitude about alcohol consumption. In June, he was filmed emptying a beer bottle in one go with the players in the dressing room after the French rugby league final.
“Our country has always had an ambiguous position regarding alcohol. There is a contradiction between the prevention messages and the messages sent by public authorities, often in a very moderate way”, summarizes Daniel Nizri, the president of the League Against Cancer, for the France Info.
The French government is accused of giving in to the powerful wine sector lobby. Two prevention campaigns were buried by the Ministry of Health this year. One of them, before being cancelled, was accused of condoning the consumption of alcoholic beverages.
The government is not doing enough to fight this public health problem, believes Emmanuel Ricard. “Alcohol is the second leading cause of cancer in the country, it is among the main causes of cancer and hospitalizations in France. It is the leading cause of emergency room visits, at a time when emergency rooms are said to be congested and patients no longer have access to them. We need to wake up!”, he warns.
To illustrate its observations, the League Against Cancer relies on some numbers: alcohol is responsible for 28,000 new cases of cancer every year in France. In 2021, 22% of French people exceeded the recommended consumption limits and 86% of young people say they consumed alcohol before the age of 17.
#parents #dont #problem #teenagers #alcoholic #beverages #survey