A strong heat wave hits Europe and prompts France to ban alcohol consumption on certain occasions (Image source: Reuters)
France has banned alcohol consumption at some events during the massive Fête de la Musique music festival, as a brutal heatwave pushed temperatures to record levels, with 35 departments placed under red heatwave alerts.Temperatures on Sunday are expected to range from 39°C to 40°C from the southwest across the Paris region into Burgundy, with some areas potentially reaching 41°C. The heat wave has been continuing for days and has caused disruption to the country, leading to the cancellation of dozens of trains and the suspension of lessons. Temperatures are expected to exceed 43 degrees Celsius during the next week.
Heat wave map in France
“For all events organized by the state and its agencies, instructions have been issued not to serve alcoholic beverages,” Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu’s office said.The government banned the consumption of alcohol in public places under red alerts, and called for limits to be imposed “to preserve emergency and healthcare services and allow medical workers to focus on caring for the most vulnerable groups.” The emergency restriction applies to all public spaces within the affected wards as of noon on Sunday.To help Parisians and tourists overcome the high temperatures, the authorities kept parks and gardens in the French capital open all night.
Bank of France Governor Emmanuel Moulin warned that heat waves in the medium term would affect economic activity. Scientists say climate change is making heatwaves more frequent and intense across Europe, increasing the risk of health emergencies and economic disruption during the summer months.The music festival has been running for over 40 years and is always held on the summer solstice. Last year, about two million people attended events in Paris.
Heat wave across Europe
A brutal heatwave is sweeping across much of Europe, with heat alerts in effect across much of Germany as temperatures approach 38C. In Italy, temperatures are expected to reach 36-37 degrees Celsius, as visitors line up under the blazing sun outside the Colosseum in Rome and seek comfort in cool underground spaces.In Spain, the Football Association decided to close the fan zone that was equipped with giant screens in Madrid’s Plaza de Colon, meaning that fans will have to watch Spain’s World Cup match against Saudi Arabia elsewhere.
