Addictions France has launched a public awareness campaign titled Zéro alcool avant 18 ans (Zero alcohol before 18), aimed at parents and the wider family circle to address early alcohol use among teenagers. The campaign is running in Rennes, Nantes, and Angers in March 2025 and includes four posters that highlight the risks of early alcohol initiation and the critical role parents play. While more than 80% of 17-year-olds in France have already tried alcohol—and over half drink monthly—the campaign encourages reflection without guilt, calling on families to break the social normalization of alcohol, which often begins with the first drink shared at home.

This campaign is backed by stark findings from two recent studies conducted by Addictions France. Despite legal restrictions, access to alcohol remains easy for minors, largely due to social acceptance and a lack of enforcement. Four in ten parents report having already let their child taste alcohol, usually around the age of 14. The situation is especially worrying in the Pays de la Loire and Brittany regions, where consumption levels are well above the national average. Beyond family settings, test purchases in 2023 revealed widespread illegal sales to minors in bars, cafés, fast-food chains, supermarkets, and corner shops—demonstrating a systemic failure to uphold protective laws.

To support parents in navigating these challenges, Addictions France provides a resource kit and an FAQ to help them engage in open conversations with their teenagers and set clear boundaries. The initiative underlines that delaying alcohol initiation is vital for safeguarding young people’s brain development and overall well-being. It also sends a broader message: the fight against underage drinking is a shared responsibility that must involve families, public authorities, retailers, and civil society.

Find more from Association Addictions France (France, March 2025)