France Cracks Down on Facebook Drunkathons

France is cracking down on massive drinkathons organized via Facebook following the death of one young imbiber. Mobs have gathered for the mass outddoor drink-ups—dubbed an apéro gêant in France—in places such as Rennes, Breast and Montpelier. Some 10,000 partied last week in Nantes where a 21-year-old drinker fell to his death from a bridge, and 57 people were hospitalized. Officials have posted web pleas to the "internautes" for responsible behavior, which seem to have had some effect. Mere hundreds gathered over the weekend for the latest booze fete.

Battling the booze binges is particularly difficult because the calls to party are made anonymously. Cops are now stealing for the next big booze-out planned this weekend on the Champs de Mars at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. "Without denying the festive and convivial motive," notes the latest police post on that event, "consuming alcohol is strictly forbidden on the Champ de Mars." (More Facebook stories.)