The plan for a French "Dry January" is not expected to materialize in 2020.

In recent days, an initiative has been the subject of heated debate: the "Alcohol-Free January" plan. Inspired by the British "Dry January," this campaign was intended to last a month, in January 2020, and was launched by the public health agency Santé publique France (which reports to the Minister of Health). While associations and addiction specialists welcomed it, no official announcement had been made by the government. For wine professionals, this initiative was not good news at all, as they are already facing other worrying challenges. But for now, it would seem that the government is not in favor of this "alcohol-free month." Thus, during a trip to Champagne In mid-November, the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, indicated to representatives of the wine industry "that there will be no Dry January".

A campaign that is a source of concern for those involved in the wine industry

In England, "Dry January" was launched in 2013 by the Alcohol Change association. Its goal is simple: to stop—or at least reduce—alcohol consumption for the entire month of January. Over the years, this initiative has grown in popularity. Public Health France wanted to follow suit, and a project was in development. It was originally slated to be unveiled before the end of the year. However, for those in the wine industry, this campaign raised concerns that compounded those caused by Brexit and the increase in US tariffs on French wines. They voiced their concerns to the government, and in particular to the President of the Republic during his visit to Champagne. And they were apparently heard, as "Dry January" is not expected to take place in 2020.

The reasons for the cancellation of this operation, which does not discourage the associations

The abandonment of this campaign did not go unnoticed. Anti-alcoholism associations and addiction specialists accused the Ministry of Health of abandoning the project due to pressure from the wine lobby and winemakers. These accusations forced Agnès Buzyn to react. On Thursday, November 21, 2019, she stated on Franceinfo radio that this "Alcohol-Free Month" had "not been approved by the Ministry of Health." She also specified that "we have an interministerial committee dedicated to health prevention in February, and it is at this time that prevention programs are approved by the government." Do these remarks confirm the abandonment of this initiative? Meanwhile, with the organization of a government-backed "Dry January" in 2020 unlikely, the associations hope to mobilize civil society to encourage consumers to participate in this French version of "Dry January."