France Bans “Le Open Bar” to Curb Binge Drinking. Sacre Bleu!
Posted by: Leonora Epstein
Filed in:
news
3:30PM, Friday March 6th 2009
After prohibiting smoking in bars in January, the French government is now cracking down on other vices by banning open bars and happy hours. The measures come after rising binge drinking trends among its country’s youth. This may come as a surprise to Americans accustomed to college kid-culture which traditionally stands in contrast to Europe’s seemingly refined youth who have profited from liberal attitudes on drinking. But, it appears weaning youngsters on beer and wine is no longer working as alcohol-related visits for minors rose 50 percent in the past five years. The law will also raise the drinking age from 16 to 18. While wine and cigarettes might be health threats, they’re also staples of French culture. If the government continues this trend, what’s next? Better start clinging to those croissants for dear life. [Reuters]
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cjmar
wrote on March 6 2009 @ 08:38 pm: [report]
Does that creepy French stereotype (complete with the beret you can buy under the Eiffel Tower) have a cigar under his nose? A pirouette (one of those cookie sticks)?
CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on March 6 2009 @ 11:43 pm: [report]
What they need to do is ban being French. We need less pompous surrender-monkeys in this world. Please see above picture for the stereotyped Parisian.
America better not take away our happy hours or open bars, I think we may riot worse than the French if it happens. And they torched 4000 cars with 21000 people in the streets, however it was over Israel, and come on who doesn’t get fired up over Israel?
Honestly, I think we need a good riot every once in a while.
nicefrenchgurl
wrote on March 7 2009 @ 01:11 am: [report]
Cheeeessse
pleaaaaassssee I AM french lol
bars are open to 16yo, but to drink any alcoholic beverages, you must be accompanied by smne of age (18)
we used to be pretty tamed compared to the canadians or americans, since we dont have such strict rules (ive studied on a canadian campus)
but kids as young as 9 end up in hospital for binge-drinking so smthg has to be done
btw did u know that we managed to have smoking banned in public places only in january 2008?
ps; though the strereotype is a riot, ive never met anyone dressed like that
CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on March 7 2009 @ 03:38 pm: [report]
@nicefrenchgurl I was really referring to Parisians being schmucks, I have been along the Rivera from Barcelona to Monaco, and thought the people in Nice, Aix-en-provence, and Toulouse were all quite pleasant.
Still the Maginot Line is one of the funnier things you French have built.