Alcohol consumption has been steadily declining in France since the 1950s. This decline is primarily due to a decrease in wine consumption, with a particular shift away from table wine toward higher-quality products. France remains among the European Union countries with the highest alcohol consumption, but no longer tops the rankings. The proportion of people with alcohol-related problems remains stable at 10% of the adult population. Heavy binge drinking and the frequency of intoxication appear to be on the rise among adolescents and young adults in recent years. Alcohol addiction is a chronic and highly relapsing disease despite treatment, particularly when associated with anxiety and depression. It leads to numerous hepatic, cardiovascular, and neuropsychiatric complications, as well as cancers. Alcohol remains responsible for high premature mortality in France. Research into factors associated with alcohol dependence is necessary to improve its management. The apparent beneficial effect of moderate alcohol consumption on the risk of death from cardiovascular disease is the subject of recurring scientific controversy, but its major harmful effects in terms of noncommunicable diseases remain paramount in public health decisions regarding alcohol consumption. [author’s abstract]