French wine sector seeks end to alcohol ad ban

France could be about to loosen its strict control over the advertising of alcohol with wine industry chiefs once again complaining they are being shackled as they try to promote the country’s most famous product. Alcohol helped spark an almighty row in France on Monday with the government and its health minister on one side and wine industry chiefs on the other. What caused the rumpus is France’s tight controls over advertising of alcohol, which were brought in back in 1991 as part of a bid to cut a worrying rise in alcohol consumption – especially among young people.