Place for drinkers to get into scrap -- France perhaps? (8)

I believe the answer is:

republic

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'france perhaps?' is the definition.
(France is a republic)

I can't explain the rest of the clue.

(Other definitions for republic that I've seen before include "Nation with a president as head of state" , "Cure blip (anag.)" , "The political system is an epic blur" , "State without monarch" , "Country with no king" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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