This paper examines trends in the French consumption of alcohol over the last three decades, and includes data on the production of alcoholic beverages, the consumption of different types of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, morbidity and mortality related to the consumption of alcohol, and a brief description of French preventive and educational measures in this area. In the last 15 years, the average alcohol consumption has ceased growing and even began to decrease. Data are given comparing consumption trends in several European countries, as well as more detailed data of alcohol consumption and related phenomena in France by region, by sex, by age and by socio-economic status (the last two categories for men only). Finally, a schema of the social dynamics of alcohol consumption is presented.