Drinking age in France.

While traveling earlier this month, D. and I were noticing young people who were at least 16 sitting in cafes socializing but not drinking alcohol, so it got us discussing the current drinking age in France. I was aware that previously it had always been age 16, but it was raised in 2011 to age 18 with France's efforts to combat drinking problems in its society, and working to change the French culture where families are allowing children to drink in their homes as young as age 12. http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2011/12/12/143521104/french-lessons-why-letting-kids-drink-at-home-isn-t-tres-bien