Lawmakers in France have overwhelmingly supported a bill to make it easier to open bars in villages, aiming to revive social life in rural areas. In a 156-2 vote on Monday, members of parliament decided to relax strict restrictions on new bar permits for selling alcohol. The bill still needs approval from the Senate to become law.

Supporters argue that this change will strengthen social ties and reduce isolation, while critics express concerns about the potential increase in health risks due to alcoholism. France has witnessed a significant decline in the number of bars and cafés serving alcohol, from approximately 200,000 in the 1960s to around 36,000 by 2015, with most closures occurring in rural communities.

In France, a type-4 alcohol license is required to open a bar selling alcoholic drinks, including hard spirits with more than 18% alcohol. Under current legislation, no new permits can be granted, and individuals hoping to open a bar must wait until an existing establishment closes to obtain its license. The proposed legislation would enable prospective bar managers in communities with fewer than 3,500 people and without an existing bar to apply for a new permit without having to wait. Local mayors would have the final authority to approve or deny such requests.

Guillaume Kasbarian, a lawmaker, stated that the outdated legal framework needs to be replaced. Fabien Di Filippo, another French MP, emphasized that bars are crucial places for people to gather in rural areas, especially in a society that tends to become isolated. However, the French health ministry warns that approximately 49,000 deaths annually in the country are attributed to alcohol consumption, highlighting it as a major public health issue.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c984n1p7qn8o