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 culture—has seen a dramatic drop among teens: 16% of 17-year-olds in France smoked daily in 2022, compared to 25% in 2016. These changes aren’t just surface-level fads, either; they point to a generational shift that’s reshaping some of France’s most iconic traditions. YPulse keeps a close eye on what’s trending and how cultural habits evolve, and right now, French Gen Z is rewriting tradition in real time. Whether it’s their...
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