Paris police officials have implemented a ban on street drinking to curb heat-related health emergencies as the city endures a 40-degree Celsius heatwave. The measure aims to reduce the burden on overwhelmed emergency services, with hospitals described as having "corridors full" of patients.
Emergency services under strain
Ambulance services are responding to twice as many daily callouts compared to the seasonal average, with 2,500 emergency responses daily, many linked to dehydration and heat-related illnesses. There has also been a surge in cardiac arrests across the city.
Paris Police Chief Patrice Faure stated: "We are reaching a saturation point in hospital facilities. The number of hospitalisations keeps increasing. As you know, drinking alcohol with the sun beating down can have a devastating effect. I must ensure that the pressure decreases."
Details of the ban
The alcohol ban began at noon on Friday and will run until 7am on Sunday, June 28, with a brief pause on Saturday morning. It prohibits the purchase and consumption of beer, wine, and spirits from shops in streets, canals, and along the Seine. Outdoor bars and restaurants are exempt.
The ban precedes France's World Cup match against Norway, where fans are expected to gather at fan parks. A similar measure was enacted during the Fête de la Musique festival, after which cleanup crews collected piles of beer cans and wine bottles.
Heatwave impact
Temperatures in Paris reached a June record of 40.9C on Wednesday and remained near 40C on Thursday. Higher temperatures are forecast as the "heat dome" continues across Europe. At least 48 people have drowned nationwide while attempting to cool off in water.
The city's annual pride march, which typically draws hundreds of thousands, has been postponed to September due to health risks. Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire noted that heatwave-related deaths in the city will certainly have risen, though full statistics are not yet available.
