Gabriel Attal, a French presidential candidate, has launched a campaign called the "1,000 Bistros Operation." The initiative aims to engage with voters by discussing four key issues—education, salaries, borders, and artificial intelligence—through local activists over the course of a month. The campaign was introduced in a video shared on social media on Monday, September 7, where Attal appears with a beer in hand and says "Santé!" (a French toast meaning "health") while winking. The video has sparked mixed reactions among politicians and the public. The clip has drawn criticism from several members of the Left (LFI) party. Antoine Léaument, an LFI deputy representing the 10th constituency of Essonne, called the video "a disgrace," pointing to statistics on alcohol-related deaths and social costs. He noted that alcohol is linked to 49,000 deaths annually, contributes to 40% of domestic violence cases, and is involved in nearly 30% of fatal traffic accidents. These incidents carry an estimated annual social cost of 100 billion euros. Aly Diouara, another LFI deputy from the 5th constituency of Seine-Saint-Denis, echoed Léaument's concerns, comparing the 49,000 deaths to "the entire population of La Courneuve erased from the map every year." Arthur Delaporte, a deputy from the Socialist Party (PS) representing the 2nd constituency of Calvados, referenced past restrictions on alcohol promotion by influencers, suggesting that Attal’s approach could be seen as promoting alcohol in a way that conflicts with public health policies. In France, alcohol advertising is regulated under the Public Health Code, specifically article L3323-2, which allows online alcohol ads as long as they are not targeted at young people or associated with sports organizations. Additionally, the Evin Law requires that all alcohol advertisements include a health-related message. Critics argue that Attal's video may blur the line between personal expression and commercial promotion, raising questions about the appropriateness of such messaging in a political context.