French all wined out

2005-09-15 23:09

Paris - The number of French people drinking wine has dwindled to a new low, according to figures published on Thursday, with nearly 40% of those of drinking age saying they never touch the stuff.

Only 32 million French now consume wine, roughly half the entire population and only 21% of people aged 15 and over in the country regularly drink it, said the National Interprofessional Office of Wine (Onivins).

The figures confirmed a long downward trend. In 2000, 24% of those polled were declared regular tipplers. In 1980, the figure was 51%.

Onivins said the amount wine-drinkers in France drank had also halved over the past four decades, going from 160 litres a person a year to around 67 litres today.

The statistics underline a crisis that is sweeping the French wine industry, which is suffering from shrinking domestic consumption and increased competition in export markets from "New World" wineries in Australia, Chile, South Africa and the US.

- AFP