Paris bans public drinking due to heatwave
Drinking alcohol in public will be banned this weekend (26-28 June) in Paris due to the ongoing heatwave, although the on-trade is excluded.
The Préfecture de Police issued a decree that prohibits the consumption of alcoholic beverages on public property and the takeaway sales of alcohol in the French capital.
Like many European cities, Paris has been suffering through a severe heatwave this week, with temperatures reaching 41ºC in some areas. Météo-France has placed Paris under a red heatwave alert, its highest warning level.
The police have issued the decree after prime minister Sébastien Lecornu activated ORSAN Level 3 yesterday (25 June), which is the highest level of health-system mobilisation.
The authorities noted that emergency medical services are under excessive strain, with both the Paris Fire Brigade and hospital emergency departments experiencing a ‘surge’.
The fire services are also facing a logistical emergency due to the lack of ice and equipment to cool down heatstroke patients.
The decree states that the medical authorities recommend completely avoiding alcohol during heatwaves because it increases dehydration, impairs the body’s temperature-regulation mechanisms and raises the risk of heatstroke.
Similar restrictions were already imposed during Fête de la Musique, which took place last weekend (21 June).
The ban is on beverages in ‘groups 3-5’, which include spirits and liqueurs, alongside beer, cider and wine.
It will be in place from 12pm today (26 June) until 7am on Saturday 27 June. It will then be reinstated from 12pm on 27 June until 7am on Sunday 28 June.
The ban does not apply to the on-trade, meaning Paris restaurants and bars will still be able to serve alcohol.
Earlier this week, it was revealed that the UK government was using tags to ban criminals from drinking.
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