The government has banned the sale of refrigerated alcoholic beverages throughout French Polynesia.
Alcohol will now have to be at room temperature in shops. This measure was taken to fight against alcoholism. Such a regulation has existed in New Caledonia for nearly twenty years. It has not reduced alcohol consumption, but it has had the merit of shifting consumption. In the past, many consumers drank near the shops. This could cause problems for customers. Nowadays, people drink a little further away.
Less work for the police
The Council of Ministers of French Polynesia has also decided to ban the sale of alcohol from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on weekends and public holidays. The tightening of alcohol restrictions was requested by the mayors of the archipelago’s municipalities. They had indeed noticed that during the restrictions a feeling of “better living” had set in and the municipal police brigades were less solicited.
In New Caledonia, this ban has been in place for many years. However, it was recently cancelled at the request of clients. It does not seem to have had any really positive effects on alcoholism, which remains a major scourge.
