French authorities in Paris have banned the consumption of alcohol in public spaces amid a deadly heatwave gripping the country and much of Europe. The extreme temperatures have placed severe strain on hospitals across the region.
Emergency Measures to Ease Hospital Pressure
‘We are at saturation point regarding hospital facilities,’ said Patrice Faure, head of the Paris police, noting the surge in emergency admissions linked to the heat. As part of new emergency measures—including a ban on takeaway alcohol sales—the city aims to reduce the rising number of heat-related hospitalisations.
‘I must ensure that this pressure is reduced,’ Faure stated.
Sharp Rise in Cardiac Arrests
French Health Minister Stéphane Rist reported on Thursday that Parisian ambulance services recorded four times the usual number of cardiac arrests within a 24-hour period. She also warned that such incidents are increasingly affecting younger people—not just the elderly.
Timing and Scope of the Ban
The public alcohol ban takes effect from noon on Friday until 7 a.m. Saturday, and will be repeated from noon Saturday to 7 a.m. Sunday. It applies to streets, parks, and other open public areas—but does not extend to restaurants and cafés with seated indoor or outdoor dining areas.
Takeaway alcohol sales are prohibited from 6 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday, and again from 6 p.m. Saturday to 7 a.m. Sunday, according to The Guardian.