Paris announces public drinking ban amid heatwave crisis
UK tourists in France face a ban on drinking alcohol in public from noon on Friday, June 26, as Paris police chief Patrice Faure declared the measure to relieve pressure on hospitals buckling under a severe heatwave. "We are reaching a saturation point in hospital facilities," Faure said on Thursday. "I must ensure that the pressure decreases."
Timing and scope of the ban
The public drinking ban begins at noon on Friday and lasts until 7am Saturday, then repeats from Saturday noon to Sunday 7am. Takeaway alcohol sales will be prohibited from 6pm Friday to 7am Saturday, and again from 6pm Saturday to 7am Sunday. The restrictions apply across Paris, a major destination for UK tourists.
Heatwave death toll rises
The number of drownings during the heatwave has reached 55, sports minister Marina Ferrari told Franceinfo. She expressed concern the situation could worsen as temperatures persist. Two-thirds of drownings occurred at unsupervised or unauthorised swimming areas, she said, as reported by Le Figaro. Sixty-one French departments remain under the highest red extreme heat alert.
UK also sweltering
The UK is experiencing similar heat, with forecasts of 38°C on Friday, June 26, according to the Met Office. Chief Meteorologist Andy Page said: "This exceptional spell of hot and humid weather will maintain its grip on the UK for a little longer." He added that daytime maximum temperatures could exceed 36°C, possibly reaching 37°C in some locations, causing significant disruption to daily life.
Impact on NHS
Consultant nephrologist and president of the Royal College of Physicians, Mumtaz Patel, told BBC Radio 5 Live: "The conditions have been awful. I was in the hospital yesterday till quite late and the patients are struggling, staff are struggling." She noted that hospital infrastructure is not designed for such heat, leading to increased admissions of elderly, frail patients with dehydration and falls, and negatively impacting staff morale.
