Additional Information
Alcool versus Alcohol
by Lynne Breaux
Spring 2003 may not be the time to laud anything French. However, it may well be the perfect time to illustrate the basic fundamental differences between the American vs. the French attitude a la Alcool.
Our posturing politicians’ positions belie the unalterable fact that our country was founded in taverns, and that public policy continues to be made in social settings, albeit not the 3-martini lobbyists’ lunches of a few decades back. A recent sojourn of Paris’ splendid cafe society spotlighted the French respect for, and the American disrespect for alcohol. Many enjoyable hours were spent imbibing in historic, treasured brasseries and never was an intoxicated patron observed. What was observed were cheerful friends and families dining and sipping red wine. In America, the parents, the restaurateur and the server would be criminals. Aren’t our jails full? European laissez-faire attitudes of responsible hospitality and responsible consumption contrast greatly with our Puritanical penchant for turning any pleasurable activity into the forbidden, and therefore the desired and perversely, the abused.
Anecdotes of American Alcohol Absurdities:
- In a New York Times article on the college binge drinking dilemma, author Jack Hitt raises a dire question and provides a logical answer: “Why do college students drink so stupidly? Because drinking intelligently is against the law.” The Justice Department funds expensive sting operations insured to ensnare even the most vigilant of responsible licensees while crime and murder plague our cities. Le Guide de Routard warns French visitors to the U.S.: “Alcohol is still taboo in American society which is very Puritan and conservative, and allows the free sale of arms, but has outrageous regulations for anything related to taboo pleasures.” The Virginia House of Representatives is determined to preserve our right to carry guns in bars and Virginia police recently began enforcing long-dormant, archaic laws against public intoxication, i.e. speaking too loudly is grounds for suspicion and possible arrest. Beware, the only place to drink is in the privacy of your or your friend’s home. The end of socialization portends the end of civilization.
- In another Jack Hitt article in the New York Times, the French
medical anthropologist, Clotaire Papaille stated: “ Freedom
exists on an axis…and in America the other side of freedom
is prohibition. They are in tension all the time. Prohibitions
of alcohol… compare that to the French where they have freedom
but no prohibition. Among the major changes Euro-Disney made to
stem their disastrous losses were special areas for smoking, dogs
and drinking. Now the place operates at a profit.” And soon
smoking will be prohibited in New York City. Did we not learn anything from Prohibition other than the fact that bootlegger’s made a lot of money and a mass immigration of our best and brightest creative artists fled to Paris’s Left Bank? - ...
- The Federal battle for continued lowering of the BAC punishes the non-problematic social drinker, while not decreasing the numbers or the severity of alcohol related auto crashes, as noted in the 1999 GAO report. Take the weapons (vehicles) away from the repeat and high BAC level offenders and fund alternative modes of transportation.
- Disneyland and Disneyworld have emulated New Orleans’ French Quarter by simulating downtown, walking environments for adults with “go” cups! In all other parts of the country, alcohol is strictly forbidden on the street, in parks or on beaches. No wandering down to the riverside in most towns with a bottle of wine, unlike the French on the banks of the Seine.
- In many parts of Europe, outdoor patios are granted tax benefits; in America patios are viewed as threatening to society. In America, licensed beverage establishments are perceived as places that increase crime, whereas, we generally decrease crime by increasing street activity and by being the eyes and ears of the community, particularly in the evening.
- When questioned about the number of D.C. establishments that are problematic, the authorities answered that barely 10% caused any problems. Yet increased regulations for all, not increased enforcement for the few are the result.
....Our country’s assumption and resulting actions that all alcohol is evil and that all dispensers of alcohol are irresponsible is erroneous. Giving our legislators the benefit of the doubt and understanding the pressure placed on them by a select group of cranks, we concur with Oscar Wilde who stated: “It is always with the best intentions that the worst work is done.”
So the French are cool on their Alcool attitudes. American politicians need to address the good that restaurants and beverage licensees do for the socialization of our citizens, not to mention our economic contributions to our city, county, state and federal coffers.
Lynne Breaux holds a degree in sociolgy and is Executive Director of the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington.
*Posted with permission.
Collections of articles, readings and references on specific topics. 
RSS feed