In France, beer has overtaken wine in consumption for the first time
France has seen a historic shift in consumer habits: for the first time in history, beer consumption has surpassed that of wine.
This is evidenced by data from the International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV) and the French brewers’ association Brasseurs de France, according to euronews.
According to official statistics, in 2025, the French consumed 22.1 million hectoliters of beer, while wine consumption last year stood at 22 million hectoliters.
At the same time, wine consumption in France has fallen to its lowest level since 1957, indicating a long-term shift in dietary and social habits.
Experts attribute this trend to several factors. In particular, the rapid development of the country’s beer industry, which offers an ever-increasing variety of products.
It is also noted that beer often has a lower alcohol content and is associated with more “social” situations—watching sports events or relaxing with friends.
Economic pressure is also cited as a key factor: as the cost of living rises, consumers—especially young people—are increasingly opting for more affordable beverages. Beer is, on average, cheaper than wine, which also influences demand.
Separately, the OIV notes that the global wine market is under additional pressure from U.S. trade restrictions and tariffs, as well as long-term changes in climate and consumer habits.
Despite this, France remains one of the largest wine consumers in Europe, although the overall trend points to a gradual decline in traditional wine culture.
As a reminder, in the United States, virologist Chris Buck created a beer that also serves as a vaccine. He incorporated the poliovirus protein into brewer’s yeast, which was then used to brew beer that, according to the author, stimulates the immune system. To test the effect, the scientist drank 7.5 liters of this beer himself over 15 days and detected antibodies in his blood.
