French wine producers are protesting against their government’s anti drinking and driving campaign. Wine producer associations claim wine sales in restaurants have dropped 15% because people are afraid of being caught over the blood alcohol limit of 0.5g/litre, which has recently been strictly enforced.
“People are so afraid of the police these days that they’re not drinking any wine at all,” said Pascal Bobillier-Monnot, director of CNAOC ( Confédération Nationale des Appellations d’Origine Contrôlée), in an interview quoted by Los Angeles Times.
It and other wine groups will launch their own campaign urging people that abstaining from wine is not the answer. Afivin, an organisation that represents wine producers, distributors and retailers is to spend €300,000 distributing breath kits to restaurants across France next year.
