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| France bill aims to call time on ‘le binge drinking’ | France bill aims to call time on ‘le binge drinking’ |
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| A draft health bill presented to French ministers on Wednesday aims to target binge drinkers by hitting them with €15,000 (£12,000) fines and sentences of up to a year in jail. | |
| The proposed legislation makes “le binge drinking” – the English term is most often used – a specific offence and is aimed at combatting alcoholism among the young. | The proposed legislation makes “le binge drinking” – the English term is most often used – a specific offence and is aimed at combatting alcoholism among the young. |
| No details were given by the health minister, Marisol Touraine, as to how any law, if passed by parliament, would be enforced. | No details were given by the health minister, Marisol Touraine, as to how any law, if passed by parliament, would be enforced. |
| The bill, to be presented to the Assemblée Nationale early next year, contains measures aimed at preventing illness and improving public health. These include requirements for greater information to be given to consumers on mass-produced food, blank cigarette packets to discourage smoking and, most controversially, what have been called “shoot-up rooms” for drug addicts to inject themselves in a safer environment. | The bill, to be presented to the Assemblée Nationale early next year, contains measures aimed at preventing illness and improving public health. These include requirements for greater information to be given to consumers on mass-produced food, blank cigarette packets to discourage smoking and, most controversially, what have been called “shoot-up rooms” for drug addicts to inject themselves in a safer environment. |
| The bill also addresses health inequalities and aims to widen access to healthcare for the poor, while encouraging GPs and other professionals to cut costs and waste by setting up surgeries with colleagues. Most GPs and independent nurses in France work alone. | The bill also addresses health inequalities and aims to widen access to healthcare for the poor, while encouraging GPs and other professionals to cut costs and waste by setting up surgeries with colleagues. Most GPs and independent nurses in France work alone. |
| The ministry also wants to introduce formal health education in all schools and a digital health book for each patient, containing their medical records. Currently, individuals are responsible for keeping their health records, including x-rays and test results. | |
| Touraine has promised a huge overhaul of France’s health service, which is deeply in the red, involving €10bn in cuts in 2015-17. | |
| The country’s Official Journal, which publishes laws and decrees, defines beuverie express (fast drinking) as the “massive intake of alcohol, generally in a group, aimed at causing drunkenness in the least possible time”. It is quantified as the consumption of more than four or five units in less than two hours. | The country’s Official Journal, which publishes laws and decrees, defines beuverie express (fast drinking) as the “massive intake of alcohol, generally in a group, aimed at causing drunkenness in the least possible time”. It is quantified as the consumption of more than four or five units in less than two hours. |
| Last year, Le Monde reported that the phenomenon, which some believe has come from Britain, had been “badly studied in France”. | |
| In June 2013, research by the National Institute for Prevention and Health Education estimated that binge drinking was rare – affecting about 2.5% of French 15-30-year-olds – but was of particular concern among the 61-75 age group, where the proportion was about 27%. | In June 2013, research by the National Institute for Prevention and Health Education estimated that binge drinking was rare – affecting about 2.5% of French 15-30-year-olds – but was of particular concern among the 61-75 age group, where the proportion was about 27%. |
| The institute said the problem was growing, with 25% of 15-30-year-olds questioned admitting having drunk at least six units of alcohol on one occasion at least once in the previous month. | The institute said the problem was growing, with 25% of 15-30-year-olds questioned admitting having drunk at least six units of alcohol on one occasion at least once in the previous month. |
| The legislation was drawn up before the summer but was reportedly diluted amid protests from medics and budget constraints. | The legislation was drawn up before the summer but was reportedly diluted amid protests from medics and budget constraints. |