French Children to Be Taught Joys of Wine As Industry Faces Crisis

It is a nation where children traditionally had the odd sip of wine from their parents' glass at the table and avoided blossoming into teenagers who binged on booze and vomited on their shoes. Now French politicians have recommended that children be given wine appreciation lessons from primary school age.

"Learning about healthy living starts from childhood and primary school," said a parliamentary report compiled by politicians from the ruling centre-right UMP party.

They suggested that teaching children about the origins, history and characteristics of French wines would promote healthy living and increase "demand for quality and respect for nature".

The wine industry, a cornerstone of French life that employs about 75,000 people, is trying to avert a crisis as French consumption has plummeted and international markets turn to New World wine.

Over 90% of French people under 25 prefer other drinks, the report found. In 1970 the French drank 100 litres of wine a head each year. Now it is down to 55 litres.

France is one of the biggest contributors to Europe's surplus "wine lake", and many producers are having to pull up their vines or distil their wine into ethanol or biofuel.

"To hold a forceful position in the world, French wine must first assume a strong position at home," the politicians said.

"When I was a child my father used to give me wine mixed with water because he was afraid plain water wasn't good for my health," Georges Casellato, a Paris wine merchant, told the Guardian.

"Times have changed and people are aware of the need teach about moderate consumption. But wine is part of our national heritage, so teaching about its origins is probably a good idea."

The report said children should be taught the "beneficial effects of wine", citing a study saying that two to four glasses a day reduced a man's risk of cancer by 20%. But they should also focus on the dangers of excessive drinking.