A Stitch in Haste

The French government is considering subsidizing wine education in schools:

"To hold a forceful position in the world, French wine must first assume a strong position at home," the report said, calling for education programs to inform young people about the origins, history and characteristics of French wines.
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The wine industry, a cornerstone of French life that employs about 75,000 people, has suffered as the country has become more health conscious.

Because you can never have too much alcohol consumption by children, so long as it's the proper kind of alcohol. "Please don't drink too much -- but if you do, then be sure to drink French!"

Could you imagine the U.S. government telling kids, "Don't drink under 21 -- but if you do, then be sure to drink only domestic beer!"

It's well understood (to libertarians, that is) that a subsidy (or tariff or quota or any other interventionist maneuver by the government) that is proclaimed to "help the economy" or "preserve jobs" does nothing of the kind -- it only helps the subsidized industry at the expense of the rest of the economy (through higher prices, lower quality, less variety, higher taxes -- or all of the above).

But France is taking it a step further -- actually compromising the best interests of children, or at the very least using them as pawns and props, for the sake of vintners (and remember -- "France" and "the French wine industry" are not the same thing).

The report of course pays lip service to the need to emphasize responsible drinking, but the underlying policy goal is a clear as it is corrupt: Get 'em while they're young.

Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose...