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Macron downing beer provokes debate on toxic masculinity

20 June 2023 By James Evison

President of France Emmanuel Macron has created a debate about toxic masculinity after being videoed downing a bottle of beer at a rugby match.

The incident occurred when Macron was filmed in the changing room of the Toulouse rugby team at the Stade de France on Saturday, where he was called upon by the players to drink a bottle of Corona.

He then proceeded to down the drink, to chants from the team, within 17 seconds.

The video was soon circulated on social media, where it created a spat between opposing sets of MPs about whether or not it classified as reinforcing stereotypes about toxic masculinity.

La masculinité toxique dans le leadership politique en une image. https://t.co/jI6gNWksO5

— Sandrine Rousseau (@sandrousseau) June 18, 2023

MP for Macron’s ruling party La République En Marche! MP Jean-Rene Cazenueve responded: “A president who is sharing in the joy of 23 players and taking part in their traditions. That’s all.”

Additionally, figures from the hospitality sector also got involved in the argument.

The Président de Région – UMIH Grand Paris – the union for hospitality in France – Stéphane Manigold, responded with: “Ah, drinking a beer = toxic masculinity? Global problems can wait, we got a bottle to fight (over).”

Ah, boire une bière = masculinité toxique? Les problèmes mondiaux peuvent attendre, on a une bouteille à combattre @sandrousseau

— Stéphane Manigold (@s_manigold) June 18, 2023

Macron is a keen supporter of the French wine trade, and has previously commented on having a glass of wine at lunch and in the evening.

The debate about Macron’s beer drinking spilled onto broadcast news channels, where debates occurred about whether the President was setting a good and healthy example, as well as whether it was an example of toxic masculinity.

It follows previous attacks on Macron’s drinking. In 2018, he came under fire for his wine consumption by a leading epidemiologist. Macron’s 14 glasses of wine a week, one with lunch and dinner each day, is unhealthy, claims French epidemiologist Catherine Hill. She has previously served on the Agence du Médicament’s scientific advisory board.

Hill recommended that Macron limit himself to 10 glasses per week. His current consumption of 14 glasses a week is in line with the French national average.

The debate over France’s predilection for wine came to a head when nine doctors published an open letter in Le Figaro at the time.

They claimed that comments made by Macron and his government about the health benefits of wine were misleading and called for tougher regulations.

Alcohol leads to around 50,000 deaths per year in France, they added.

db has reached out to AB InBev who produce Corona for comment.