48 addictologists call on the government to support alcohol-free month

Evoking “seriously impaired” confidence in the government, they expect “strong gestures, both in terms of content and symbolic scope”.

In a letter addressed to Aurélien Rousseau, Minister of Health, 48 addictologists ask the government to support “Dry January”, “January Challenge” or month without alcohol. This letter revealed Monday December 11 by the newspaper The Parisian [article payant] and of which Franceinfo has had confirmation, was written by the national university college of addictology teachers.

“If we, academics and teachers of Addictology, take the liberty of addressing you, it is because it seems to us that recent events concerning alcohol risk prevention policy deserve to join our forces and our skills on public health objectives, rather than on the terrain of confrontation”, the addictologists begin in the preamble. According to these doctors, “confidence in the government to pursue a coherent and resolute policy” against alcoholism “is seriously impaired. Restoring this confidence can only happen through strong gestures, both in terms of content and symbolic significance”they insist.

For the signatories of this text, “supporting the social mobilization operation known in France as the ‘January Challenge’ seems to us to be a prime opportunity. As you know, this is a positive operation which consists, for everyone, in the part of a collective movement, to question the place that alcohol takes in one’s life and to take up the challenge of not consuming it during this period”details the letter.

Non-moralistic and supported by opinion

It’s about “a social mobilization operation on a voluntary basis which is neither normative nor moralizing. The title of this operation was chosen precisely to translate these objectives and to mobilize everyone for their health”. For these addictologists, the benefits of this month without alcohol, “are attested in countries which have been carrying out similar campaigns for many years, notably in the United Kingdom”.

“We know, of course, that support for this social mobilization by Public Health France has been suspended. However, since 2020 the resumption by an inter-associative collective has met with public opinion, as polls regularly confirm. It is consensual and it would be more than a shame if the Ministry of Health and Prevention, and its agency in this field, continued to stay away from it”warn addictologists.

Addressing Aurélien Rousseau, they wrote: “You have affirmed your determination to fight against the risk of alcohol, the involvement of the ministry and Public Health France in the January Challenge would be both a strong gesture reflecting your commitment, but also an outstretched hand towards all stakeholders of Addictology and Public Health, all of whom unreservedly support the January Challenge”.

Aurélien Rousseau’s agreement “would greatly calm a debate and allow us to start again on a calm basis. We are confident, Mr. Minister, in your response, and this is why, in our capacity as academics and teachers, we have taken the initiative of this mediation. Sensitive to the attention that you will pay to our request, we ask you to believe, Mr. Minister, in the expression of our high consideration”conclude the 48 addictologists.