Why are the French drinking less wine? The phenomenon has been put down to the recession, a decline in traditional family mealtimes and even the realisation across the channel that a daily tipple is just not particularly good for you.
But today, at least one other theory can be put forward - they're drinking Scotch whisky instead.
New Government figures have revealed a growing demand for Scottish produce among the French, largely driven by a growing taste for our national drink. Exports of whisky have risen by over 50 per cent since 2007, standing at an impressive £445 million for last year and bucking a worldwide trend that saw a slight fall in demand compared to the previous 12 months.
Wine continues its decline in popularity across the channel, with the annual average consumption of around 160 litres each in the 1960s dropping to around 60 litres by 2010. Figures provided by the wine and spirits analysis service the IWSR showed that consumption of wine in France had continued to fall, by millions of cases, in recent years as Scotch whisky imports soared.
A Gallic taste for Scottish food is also developing, particularly within the seafood sector. Food exports to France were valued at £289 million in 2014, most of which was fish, an increase of 7.4 per cent on the previous year and a 71 per cent rise since 2007.
The rise makes France the top European destination for Scottish food and drink exports and Scotland’s second largest food and drink exports market in the world, behind only the United States.
Reacting to the figures, SNP MSP Christian Allard, the only Frenchman ever to occupy the benches at Holyrood, said: "I know better than most that the French are people of excellent taste – so it’s no surprise to see such a dramatic increase in the number of people saying bon appétit to Scottish produce.
"In the spirit of the auld alliance, perhaps we should celebrate the growing success of Scottish exports with a glass of Champagne!"
The figures, which showed food and drink exports to France were worth £733 million in total last year, were released as Fiona Hyslop, the Scottish Government external affairs secretary, travelled to France to host a trade and investment reception in a bid to increase exports further.
She said the statistics underlined the growing importance "our friends across The Channel place on sourcing authentic produce from Scotland’s rich and natural larder" and offered an example of a benefit of EU membership to Scotland.
Speaking from Paris, she added: "This is a real compliment from the nation widely recognised as the world’s culinary epicentre. These figures show that in addition to their renowned love of great wine - the French have also developed a growing taste for Scotch whisky and a healthy appetite for our premium salmon and seafood.
"Further increasing our food and drink offering in France is a major priority for the Scottish Government. We have identified France as a top prospect market within our national export plan, and our in-market Scottish food and drink specialist, Cameron Sutherland, who works in Paris, is working hard with the Scottish Government and its agencies to further strengthen the growth we’ve seen in recent years."
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