Less wine and beer: alcohol consumption falls but hospitalizations increase

In 2023, the French consumed less alcohol. But at the same time, hospitalizations for disorders related to consumption have increased slightly: +4.1% in one year, according to the French Observatory of Drugs and Addictive Trends (OFDT).

“These stays affect 307,676 patients, the majority of whom are men (73%) and whose average age is 56 years,” the observatory specifies in a press release, on the occasion of its 2023 barometer.

The reason is our way of consuming. The French consume less regularly, especially their glass of wine at the table, and prefer “an intensive and punctual consumption behavior.” Drink more and less often.

“These changes reflect the transition that began in the 2000s from a mode of consumption called ‘Mediterranean’ (with daily use, mainly of wine, during meals and in quantities not exceeding a few glasses) to a mode of consumption called ‘Mediterranean’ mode of consumption (less frequent uses, but with larger quantities and in festive contexts), which would be more widespread among young people,” observes the OFDT.

We also noticed a consumption of two speeds. Among adults, the “most marked” reduction in consumption occurs in daily consumption (13%). While among those under 18 years of age, daily consumption decreased by 31% and binge eating episodes decreased by 16.8%.

Bitter effect of inflation

In detail, the volumes of pure alcohol put on sale continued to decrease in 2023 (-3.8%), with consumption equivalent to 10.35 liters of alcohol per French person over 15 years of age on average. A decline driven mainly by the fall in wine sales (-4.2), although it still represents half of the alcoholic beverages consumed in France.

For its part, beer only represents a quarter of the total volume, but its sales show the smallest decrease, almost half that of wine. “As in previous years, the sale of beers is greater than that of spirits, which has never happened since the early 1960s until 2018.

Is it just a change of tastes and habits? You must also take into account the price factor. The year 2023 was marked for the first time by significant and continued inflation in consumer goods.

But the overall price increase in the alcohol sector (+2%) was ten times lower in the case of beer (+0.2%). Without forgetting that taxes are proportional to the alcohol content, which is less strong in certain beers. The final price also reflects this.