French President Emmanuel Macron was accused of not supporting the idea of holding a dry January action, which provides for refusal to drink alcohol for a month. The accusation was received from fifty addiction experts who have expressed their dissatisfaction with the lack of state support for the alcohol refusal campaign.
In their open letter, it is noted that the French government does not show proper attention and support the initiatives to combat alcohol addiction. The Dry January campaign, which has already gained popularity in the United Kingdom, remains ineffective in France because of the government's indifference.
Several ministers of France have refused to support the idea of "dry January", arguing that propaganda of moderation is a more effective approach. Agricultural Minister Mark Fesno pointed to a general decrease in alcohol consumption in the country and refused to support the dry January initiative.
Critics see this confirmation that the government and the president resort to reconciliation with alcohol producers instead of the real concern for the health of the population. Supporters of "dry January" emphasize that France remains one of the largest consumers of alcohol in Europe, leading to more than 40,000 deaths every year.
Recently, the French government has announced the allocation of 200 million euros for the utilization of excess wine production, defining it as measures to support producers in the conditions of falling demand.
