Beer overtakes wine in France for first time

Beer has overtaken wine by volume consumed in France for the first time on record, marking a symbolic shift in a country closely associated with vineyards and the ritual of wine at the table.

French consumers drank around 10 million litres more beer than wine in 2025, according to figures from industry body the Organisation internationale de la vigne et du vin published on May 12, as wine consumption fell to its lowest level in 70 years.

The change does not reflect a boom in beer drinking but rather a continuing decline in wine consumption, particularly red wine, as younger generations drink less alcohol overall and move away from traditional meal habits.

The annual report indicates wine  consumption fell by 3% in 2025 to 22 million hectolitres (mhl) while France’s annual production is 36.1mhl hectolitres.

‘Long-term downward trend’

Wine in French culture continues “a long-term downward trend that began several decades ago”, the report states.

Researchers and retailers point to several overlapping trends: smaller households, more informal eating habits, takeaway meals and changing attitudes towards health and alcohol.

“Society has become more tertiary,” sociologist Joan Cortinas told France Télévisions, referring to the shift towards office-based work and shorter lunch breaks. “Often people do not even eat properly at midday anymore.”

At the same time, official health campaigns and changing social norms have steadily reduced alcohol consumption overall. 

More than half of French people now say they do not drink alcohol every week, according to France Télévisions.

Alcohol-free trend boosts beer

Beer, meanwhile, has adapted more successfully to changing tastes.

Consumption has remained broadly stable at around 33 litres per person annually, helped by lower alcohol levels, cheaper prices and the expansion of craft brewing over the past two decades.

“The world of beer has evolved more in the last 20 or 25 years than in the previous hundred,” beer expert Raphaël Marfaing told France Télévisions, citing the rise of microbreweries and a wider variety of flavours and styles.

The strongest growth has come from alcohol-free beer, with the segment reportedly rising by 12% over one year as consumers seek lighter or non-alcoholic options.

Wine producers are also attempting to modernise their image, simplifying marketing and emphasising organic and natural wines in an effort to appeal to younger drinkers.

Despite the domestic decline, France remains the world’s leading wine exporter, with international sales worth around €11billion annually.