- France has consumed more beer than wine for the first time, with wine consumption reaching its lowest level since 1957, attributed to rising living costs and changing drinking habits among younger generations.
- According to the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), the French drank 22 million hectolitres of wine last year, slightly less than the 22.1 million hectolitres of beer reported by Brewers of France.
- This decline reflects a long-term downward trend in wine consumption, with figures for 2025 showing a 3.2 per cent drop from the previous year and a 7.2 per cent decrease from the five-year average in France.
- Experts attribute the wider pattern to difficult economic conditions in mature wine markets, US tariffs impacting global trade, and societal shifts, such as changes in mealtime rituals.
- In contrast, cheaper beer has maintained steady consumption in France, and non-alcoholic beer saw a 12 per cent increase last year, while the wine sector is adapting by focusing on tourism, sustainability, and lower-alcohol products.
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