You know you are in France when... champagne is on the hospital menu

An Australian resident of Paris has told of his surprise at seeing champagne on the menu as an out-patient at the city’s private American Hospital in Neuilly-sur-Seine.

“You know you're in France when you can order a bottle of champagne on the hospital room service menu,” said Darren Banner, 59.

Despite catching his eye, Mr Banner did not buy any bubbly as he was in for a day procedure. 

The father-of-three is currently undergoing chemotherapy for stage 4 colon cancer and was at the hospital getting a stent inserted to start treatment.

“You don’t get anything like that in the public hospitals. You can get it if you're an in-patient too,” he added.

He saw three bottles of Champagne on the menu; Les Demoiselles at €75, Deutz for €149, and Louis Constant at a cost of €69.

Mr Banner, who is originally from Tasmania and worked for many years as a diver in the offshore oil and gas industry, and his wife settled in Paris in 2019.

A cancer diagnosis in 2023 forced him to retire from diving, but he retrained as a project manager and advisor, working on tunnelling projects in London, El Salvador, and the UK.

After his first diagnosis he went into remission but faced a recurrence last year that required radiotherapy and has since spread.

Upcoming projects in Australia mean he and his wife plan to relocate there early next year, giving him more time with family and access to the Australian health system.

Since his diagnosis, Mr Banner has become a self-appointed cancer awareness advocate, sharing his experiences through online talks on Facebook and Instagram using hashtags such as #ColonCancer. 

He hopes to inspire others to be proactive about their health. “I know from messages that I’ve received that I’ve actually made a difference, potentially saving lives,” he said.

Champagne is part of room service menu

A spokeswoman for the American Hospital of Paris confirmed that champagne is available on the hospital’s room service menu.

However, it is intended for visitors or guests celebrating special occasions, such as the birth of a baby. 

She said she did not want to focus on this but rather on the benefits of promoting the hospital as a whole, as it has specialised medical care across 53 divisions of excellence, including cardiology, oncology, orthopedics, and gastroenterology. 

Accredited by both the French Haute Autorité de Santé and the US Joint Commission, the hospital, which was founded in 1906, is recognised for its commitment to quality and safety in patient care.

What is something you have seen that has made you say ‘only in France!’ during your time in the country? Let us know via feedback@connexionfrance.com