France Drinks More Beer Than Wine for the First Time

France has reached a symbolic turning point in its drinking habits: for the first time, people in the country drank more beer than wine last year, according to industry figures released this week, as higher living costs and changing habits among younger adults continued to reshape one of the world’s most closely watched wine markets.

The International Organisation of Vine and Wine said French consumers drank 22 million hectoliters of wine in 2025, slightly below the 22.1 million hectoliters of beer reported by Brewers of France. The gap is small, but it marks a historic shift in a country long associated with wine at the table, in cafés and in daily life. Wine consumption in France also fell to its lowest level since 1957, underscoring a decline that has been building for decades.

The latest figures show wine consumption in France dropped 3.2% from the previous year and was down 7.2% from the five-year average. Industry analysts say the decline reflects both economic pressure and cultural change. Rising prices have made many consumers more cautious about what they buy and drink, while younger French adults are less likely than their parents or grandparents to treat wine as a routine part of meals.

Beer has held up better because it is often cheaper and more closely tied to casual social occasions. Nonalcoholic beer has also gained ground, with sales rising 12% last year, according to the data cited by industry groups. That growth suggests that some consumers are not simply switching from wine to stronger alcohol, but are instead looking for lower-alcohol or alcohol-free options.

The shift comes at a difficult moment for the wine trade more broadly. Producers in mature markets have been facing weaker demand, and exporters have had to contend with trade tensions and tariffs that have affected global sales. In France, where wine remains central to agriculture, tourism and national identity, the industry has been trying to adapt by promoting vineyard visits, sustainability efforts and wines with lower alcohol content.

For many producers, the numbers are less a sudden shock than another sign of a long transition. French drinking habits have been changing for years as meals become less formal, younger consumers drink less overall and social drinking moves away from the dinner table. What was once an assumption — that wine would remain the default drink in France — is now being tested by price, preference and a new generation with different expectations.