True
Until 1956, French schoolchildren under 14 were allowed alcohol with their school meals.
Spread on: Instagram and other social media, May 2026
The real story
True, with a twist. In 1956 France banned children under 14 from drinking alcohol in school cafeterias. Older students were not covered by that rule, and alcohol was not fully banned from French school cafeterias until 1981.
The fact-checker's verdict: “True”. Our label never goes further than theirs.
How to spot it
Surprising history claims often have the right date but skip the fine print, so check exactly who a rule covered.
The receipts
Did French schools allow children to drink alcohol at lunch until 1956? ↗
Snopes · 2026-05-26
