Almost nine out of ten supermarkets violate the law by selling alcohol to the complaints of minors, in view of the tests carried out in Nantes, Angers and Rennes, the addictions of the France Association, which affirms on Thursday, July 3 of “truly dissuasive sanctions” and the frequent controls by the State.
Of 90 establishments from Auchan, Lidl, Leclerc, Diagonal, U Express, Intemché, Carrefour (City, Market and Express), Monoprix, Franprix and G20 tested in April and May, 86% of alcohol, alcohol, depending on the association. Against 93% during a similar operation in 2021.
“Despite the formal prohibition of alcohol sales to minors and the state’s commitment to make it better, access to alcohol remains in 2025 very easy for minors,” Myriam Savy deplored, France’s Defense Defense Manager.
Tests with minors accompanied by sheriffs
For these tests, the minors were accompanied by a sheriff, in the supermarkets, part of which “had already been subject to observations.” Only 8% of the establishments requested an identity document to verify the age of the clients.
However, article L.3342-1 of the Public Health Code specifies that “the person issuing the drink requires the client that establishes the proof of the majority” through a “systematic act”, “not conditioned by the simple doubt about the physical appearance of the client,” recalls France addictions.
These test purchases “were made systematically during the day, during the week”, with the greatest frequency in the moments of “low crowd, with little or even no customer in the cashier”, specifies the association to overcome the argument of “pressure related to the crowds” to justify the non -control of the age.
In detail, of the 25 tested Carrefour stores, only two rejected the sale, two also among the 11 lidl tested, as within the 7 stores of the cooperative group he visited. Among the other brands: only an E. Reclercler store of Six rejected the sale to the child, only a 7 intent, without monoprix in the 6 tested and none Auchan (two).
In the summer of 2023, the association had tried 42 bars in Lloire-Atlantique, coffees and fast food points in urban and rural areas: only one had rejected the sale after verification of the child’s age.
37 legal procedures
His findings in 2023-2024 gave rise to the opening of 37 legal procedures, the first of which “will not be argued until December 9, 2025”, a period of two years that “strengthens a feeling of impunity and trivializes the transgression of the law,” judges France addictions.
Against “the general inefficiency of the current regulatory system” and the “letter of responsible commitments” signed by a large distribution (Carrefour, Auchan, Lidl, Monoprix …) in 2019, in association with the faction of commerce and distribution, the association requests systematic random controls by the State and “really dissuasive” sanctions.
With fines that reach 2% of the company’s annual billing if it is less than 100,000 euros, and 10% of 500,000 euros, it has a graduated sanctions regime that reminds of those of the environmental or competence law.
The use of administrative sanctions could systematize, from warning to suspension, or even withdrawn from the license for the Prefect or the Mayor after two recurrences. And the dedicated media would allow to judge these crimes in six weeks.
Because if selling alcohol to a minor is a punishable crime with a fine of 7,500 euros, double in case of recurrence before 5 years, the controls are rare, the procedures are rare and convictions until the maximum fine almost not existing, “says addictions.
In comparison, in Switzerland, which combines prevention, frequent random checks and deterrent sanctions, 65% of sellers verified the age of buyers in 2023, according to 54% in 2014, according to the association.
In July 2024, the Pau Court of Appeals confirmed the condemnation of the LIDL brand at 5,000 euros for having sold alcohol to a child under 16, Kilian, who had committed suicide in Urrugne (Pyrénées Atlantiques) on May 8, 2021 when hitting a Pylon Scooter after being attacked by a circulating friend, also alcoholic, in his scoter. Lidl has appeared in the cassation.
Source: BFM TV
