France bans alcohol at Fête de la Musique due to heatwave

France is implementing a ban on public alcohol consumption during the Fête de la Musique festival in regions facing extreme heat. The measure aims to mitigate risks associated with high temperatures and reduce the strain on emergency services.

The ban will be in effect on June 21 in all departments designated with the highest heat warning level. Temperatures in these areas are forecast to reach over 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). Local authorities will issue specific ordinances for public spaces, and state-organized events will not serve alcohol.

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The ban applies on June 21 in all departments for which the highest heat warning level will be issued from Sunday afternoon.

This decision comes as the French weather service, Météo France, has issued the highest or second-highest warning for nearly the entire country on Sunday. Thirty-five departments, including the Paris region, are under the red alert, expecting peak temperatures between 38 and 41 degrees Celsius. Another 60 departments are under an orange alert, with temperatures potentially reaching up to 38 degrees Celsius.

The government has also issued a general appeal for people to limit their alcohol intake during the music festival. This broader recommendation is intended to help emergency services cope with the anticipated increase in heat-related incidents. France experienced a significant heatwave earlier in May, highlighting the growing concerns over extreme weather conditions.

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The government generally called for limiting alcohol consumption at the music festival to relieve emergency services.