France has long carried a reputation for its relaxed, pleasure-first lifestyle—long lunches with wine, cigarettes over coffee, and resisting the fast-paced consumer-driven habits of other countries. But now, that image is starting to shift, and according to many, it’s because of Gen Z. Instead of lingering at cafes with a glass of red, French Gen Z is reportedly more likely to meet a juice bars, order matcha over espressos, or swap wine for alcohol-free alternatives. American-style fitness classes and wellness trends are edging out the old-school idea of leisure in favor of constant productivity. And smoking—once synonymous with French café...
