A new bill that would change an old licencing law has faced opposition from the left over concerns about alcohol consumption.
In an effort to improve business and social settings in rural villages, French MP Guillaume Kasbarian is pushing for a new law that would make it easier to reopen bistros, cafés, and bars.
Kasbarian, a member of President Emmanuel Macron’s party, Renaissance, hopes to relax the rules surrounding the licence required to sell alcoholic beverages.
His proposal passed the National Assembly on Monday with 156 lawmakers in favour and two against. It now requires approval from the Senate to become law.
According to local media, the number of traditional village bistros has significantly decreased in the past 60 years in small towns across France.
Many rural communities now lack any form of local business, with cafés once serving as hubs for social interaction and community life.
In 1960, France had around 200,000 cafés; by 2015, the number had sunk to 36,000. According to a 2017 report by France Boissons industry body and the CREDOC consumer studies agency, the decline mainly affected rural areas.
Kasbarian wants to reverse this trend by simplifying access to the type-4 alcohol licence. As things stand, new licences are not issued. Instead, café or bar owners must wait until an existing drinking spot closes and pay €7,500 to purchase the existing permit before undergoing an administrative approval process.
Kasbarian’s proposed reform would allow villages with less than 3,500 residents to request the permit without having to wait.
Supporters argue that the change could revive struggling rural communities, making it easier for entrepreneurs to open businesses and encourage social connections in isolated areas.
“The goal is to bring life back to villages,” Kasbarian told French media. “In many small towns, there is not a single shop, café, or bistro. Yet, these places are essential for socialising and community engagement.”
The proposal has faced resistance from left-wing party La France Insoumise, which argues that it could encourage alcoholism.
Kasbarian says that these concerns are misguided, pointing out that 80% of alcohol is sold in supermarkets.
“In villages without bars, people don’t stop drinking,” he told local media, “they simply consume alcohol at home, without any control. Closing bars and cafés does not fight alcoholism; it’s a misleading argument.”
