Europe swelters under heatwave, France restricts alcohol consumption

A punishing heatwave is gripping Europe, leading to significant measures like a partial alcohol ban in France and widespread warnings across Germany. Temperatures are soaring towards record levels, impacting daily life and prompting authorities to take action.

In France, 35 departments are under red heatwave alerts, with temperatures predicted to reach between 39C and 41C from the southwest to the Paris region and Burgundy. In response, Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has banned alcohol consumption at public events, including the Fete de la Musique festivals, scheduled for Sunday in the affected regions. Paris authorities have ordered parks to remain open around the clock to offer public relief.

Germany is also experiencing intense heat, with temperatures approaching 38C in most areas. The national weather service has warned of the potential for severe thunderstorms due to the combination of heat and humidity. Beyond the Alps, Italy is seeing daily life and tourism transformed by expected temperatures of 36-37C in some towns, with visitors enduring long queues in the sun outside landmarks like the Colosseum.

In Spain, the football federation decided to close the fan zone in Madrid's Plaza de Colon square, forcing fans to find alternative locations to watch the World Cup match. Scientists attribute the increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves across Europe to climate change, raising concerns about health emergencies and economic disruption. Bank of France Governor Emmanuel Moulin noted that while short-term economic effects are ambiguous, heatwaves pose a risk to economic activity in the medium term.

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short-term effects on growth were 'somewhat ambiguous', citing both reduced productivity and increased energy use, but warned that over the medium term, heatwaves weigh on economic activity.