In towns and villages across France, a familiar sight is slowly fading away. The traditional “bar-tabac,” known simply as a “tabac,” is closing its doors.

With their shiny zinc counters, lottery tickets, and bright carrot-shaped signs, tabacs are places where people drink coffee in the morning, meet friends after work, and chat about local news. In many ways, they play the same role as pubs in the UK. But today, they are disappearing.

In 1960, France had around 200,000 bars-tabacs. Now, fewer than 40,000 remain. Thousands have closed over the years, especially in small towns and rural areas.

Researchers say this is more than just a business story. It is also a social and political one.

More Than Just a Bar

A tabac is not just a place to buy cigarettes or drinks. It is often the heart of the community. Pensioners play cards. Workers stop by for coffee and croissants. Neighbours meet and talk.

In small villages, some tabacs also sell newspapers, phone cards, and local products. When other shops close, the tabac often becomes the last public place where people can gather.

When a tabac shuts down, something important disappears. People lose a space to meet and talk. Daily social contact becomes rarer.

A Link to Rising Support for the Far Right

Hugo Subtil, a researcher at the University of Zurich, studied voting patterns in France between 2002 and 2022. He found that in areas where a bar-tabac had recently closed, support for Marine Le Pen’s National Rally party increased by 1.3% to 3.6%.

The effect was even stronger in rural areas. In places where other social spaces had already closed, the rise in support for the far right was three times higher than in cities.

Subtil says the impact is not immediate. When a factory closes, people may quickly vote in protest. But when a tabac closes, the change is slower.

When everyday conversations slowly disappear, people talk less with neighbours. Over time people start feeling loneliness. Similarly when the local café, bar, or meeting spot closes, people lose a simple place to sit, chat, and exchange ideas. So in this situation people switch to television or social media for news and opinions. And on those platforms, the loudest voices often offer easy answers to complex problems sometimes by blaming immigrants or outside forces.

Without real conversations in real places, politics can start to feel far away and divided. People may feel unheard. They may feel left out. Studies in the UK showed something similar. In areas where community pubs closed, support grew for parties like UKIP before Brexit. Researchers believe that when social spaces disappear, people are more likely to feel “left behind.”

The Language of Being ‘Forgotten’

Marine Le Pen’s National Rally often speaks about “forgotten” or “abandoned” parts of France. According to Subtil’s research, while many political parties talk about struggling regions, the far right uses more emotional language.

Instead of offering technical solutions, they speak directly to feelings of neglect. For people who see shops closing and public spaces disappearing, this message can feel personal.

Can the Trend Be Reversed?

There is also a hopeful side to the research. Subtil found that in places where new bars-tabacs opened, support for the National Rally often went down. This suggests that rebuilding social spaces can help rebuild trust and community ties.

Public investment in local services and meeting places may reduce feelings of isolation. Stronger social connections can lead to stronger communities.

As France moves toward future elections, these small changes may matter more than they seem. Because it is not only about a bar or cafe closure but it can be about a hit on people’s mindset!