The French "Dry January" initiative is unlikely to be implemented in 2020.

In recent days, one initiative has been the subject of heated debate: the "Alcohol-Free January" plan. Inspired by the British "Dry January" campaign, this initiative was set to run for one month in January 2020 and was launched by the French public health agency Santé publique France (which reports to the Minister of Health). However, while associations and addiction specialists welcomed the initiative, 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 developments. But for the moment, it would seem that the government is not in favor of this "alcohol-free month." During a trip to Champagne In mid-November, French President Emmanuel Macron told representatives of the wine industry that "there will be no Dry January."

A campaign causing 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 throughout the month of January. Over the years, this initiative has grown in popularity. The French public health agency Santé publique France wanted to take inspiration from it and a project was in the works. Normally, it should have been unveiled before the end of the year. However, for those involved in the wine industry, this campaign raised concerns that added to those caused by Brexit and the increase in US customs duties on French wines. They therefore expressed their fears to the government and, in particular, to the President of the Republic when he was in Champagne. And it seems that their concerns were heard, as "Janvier Sec" is not expected to take place in 2020.

The reasons for canceling 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 giving up on this project due to pressure from the wine lobby and winegrowers. These accusations forced Agnès Buzyn to respond. On Thursday, November 21, 2019, she told Franceinfo 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 that is when prevention programs are approved by the government." Do these comments confirm that the initiative has been abandoned? In the meantime, as it is unlikely that the government will support the organization of a "Dry January" in 2020, associations hope to mobilize civil society to encourage consumers to participate in this French version of "Dry January" anyway.