This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/29/france-binge-drinking-beuverie-express

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
French language police call time on 'le binge drinking' French language police call time on 'le binge drinking'
(34 minutes later)
As long as it was seen as nothing more than an antisocial Anglo-Saxon habit, le binge drinking remained just that: an English term. As a sign of the changing times and the reported spread of the practice in France, however, the country's language police have decreed an official new term.As long as it was seen as nothing more than an antisocial Anglo-Saxon habit, le binge drinking remained just that: an English term. As a sign of the changing times and the reported spread of the practice in France, however, the country's language police have decreed an official new term.
As of now, binge drinking does not happen in France. Instead, anyone consuming large quantities of alcohol in a short space of time with the express intention of getting drunk is engaged in beuverie express. As of now, binge drinking does not happen in France. Instead, anyone consuming large quantities of alcohol in a short space of time with the intention of getting drunk is engaged in beuverie express. The phrase, which translates literally as "fast drinking", was given the official approval of the culture ministry's general commission of terminology and neology on Sunday. The commission defined the term as "the massive absorption of alcohol, generally in a group, aimed at provoking drunkenness in the minimum amount of time".
The phrase, which translates literally as "fast drinking", was given the official approval of the culture ministry's general commission of terminology and neology on Sunday. The commission defined the term as "the massive absorption of alcohol, generally in a group, aimed at provoking drunkenness in the minimum amount of time".
Le Monde further qualified "massive absorption" as "more than 4-5 glasses in less than two hours", but failed to elucidate how big a glass or of what.Le Monde further qualified "massive absorption" as "more than 4-5 glasses in less than two hours", but failed to elucidate how big a glass or of what.
The scale of binge drinking in France remains largely unknown. Last month a study by the INPES, a French health body, suggested that 2.5% of 15-30-year-olds regularly consumed alcohol, but said this was on the rise. The scale of binge drinking in France remains largely unknown. In March Express magazine reported on a study in the European Journal of Public Health showing that excessive drinking of alcohol was responsible for 49,000 deaths in France in 2009.
In March Express magazine reported on a study in the European Journal of Public Health showing that excessive drinking of alcohol was responsible for 49,000 deaths in France in 2009.
Now they have a French phrase for it: beuverie express, binge drinking à la française.Now they have a French phrase for it: beuverie express, binge drinking à la française.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox every weekday.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox every weekday.