Défi de janvier: French doctors urge politicians to defy alcohol lobby and back dry January

Dry January is at the centre of a political row in France after more than 45 professors of addiction studies signed a letter urging the state to promote a month of abstinence from alcohol.

- Angelique Chrisafis

A group of senior academics and doctors have written to the French health minister to say that not enough is being done by the state to campaign on alcohol risks, and the government should support an alcohol-free month at the start of the year.

Dry January, which started in the UK 10 years ago, was introduced to France in 2020 as the défi de janvier, or January challenge, promoted by health charities. It has grown inpopularity, with more than 60% of French people wanting to try it in 2024, according to a survey by the French polling firm BVA for the Association Addictions France, but the French state health body has not promoted dry January and politicians are reluctant to support it.

The unprecedented letter said that state support for the initiative would be an opportunity and a "strong sign" that would "calm" the debate on alcohol consumption in France. It said: "It appears that trust in the government to run a coherent and resolute political [approach to alcohol] has seriously deteriorated."

The letter added it was "more than a shame" that the government continued to keep its distance from the French version of dry January.

After the US, France is the second biggest consumer of wine in the world, and French politicians listen closely to the country's wine industry, which employs 500,000 people.