The French government has come up with a more inventive method of dealing with teenage binge drinking than most other countries. In a nation where binge drinking is increasing to the levels of Britain, a government-commission report has recommended university canteens hold wine-tasting sessions so as to educate the students in moderate consumption, for pleasure rather than intoxication.

The report was commissioned by Minister for Higher Education, Valerie Pecresse, and although it has several recommendations, the “initiation to a moderate consumption of wine” has attracted the most attention, positive and negative.

“Why is there sexual education and not viticultural education? You can learn wine too,” Jean-Pierre Coffe, a celebrated gastronome and co-author of the study believes that this method will teach students to love the taste rather than drinking for the sake of getting drunk. With support from the former Sorbonne director Jean-Robert Pitte, the idea has made some nod their heads, though many others have said no, including Minister Pecresse.

Many French parents, like their Spanish and Italian counterparts, allow their children very small amounts of watered-down wine at the table in order for them to learn about the flavours and also to exercise restraint in their drinking tendencies. It is not something encouraged here in Britain or America where the legal ages of 18 and 21 respectively have meant a lot of underage teens drink on the streets and at house-parties where there is no one to teach them moderate their intake. Quite a few British have advocated the idea of teaching children early to enjoy and constrain their intake, believing that their European neighbours have the right idea.

Binge drinking gets messy...or very organised

But in December 2009 Britain’s Chief Medical Officer Liam Donaldson shot down the notion that British children and young teens could be introduced to wine in the same manner, disputing the idea that teens and young adults would handle alcohol more responsibly if they introduced to at an early age.

“There really is no evidence to support this at all,” he said. “The idea that you give children alcohol early on and they will be OK is not supported by evidence at all. The earlier they are introduced to alcohol the more they get a taste for it and are likely to end up as heavily drinking adults or binge drinking in their childhood.”

Binge drinking in France has increased by 10% between 2005 and 2008 although it is still lower than Britain and the Scandinavian countries. In the UK youngsters reported they often experience intoxication and regularly imbibe alcohol, whereas in France teenagers admitted to drinking regularly but not to the point of intoxication. However, the French government is still attempting to combat the problem; in November 2009, an awareness campaign was launched at the Hotel de Ville in Paris, warning 15-25 year-olds of the dangers of binge drinking.

That all being said, I lived in Paris for my entire teenage years, and although I definitely binge-drinked, I did so in the eery popular English/Irish/Australian bars. When in French bars, I was far more responsible as were my friends and siblings. It is the influence of the Anglo-Saxons that cause students to binge-drink; when out with just french friends I drank moderately and enjoyed the taste. Here in Exeter, I don’t see any students drinking for taste and it is horrifying.

Think about what binge-drinking actually means; to binge indicates that a person has consumed 3 drinks or more in one night. I no longer do so except on occasion, but many of my peers here at university probably still do not realise that binge-drinking means anything above 3 drinks. They most likely think it’s if someone drinks 5 pints or more at the least.

Whilst I am sure the French do have alcohol problems in their society, the British need to step up on their education and prevention as well. Some people may scoff at the idea of wine-tasting sessions for students but I actually see the logic in the idea and believe it could be successful. Not for everyone obviously, but for many teenagers and young adults it is the advice and teaching they need to become responsible drinkers. Parents are too often not the best role models.