A person cools off from a public fountain near the Colosseum during a heatwave in Rome, June 20, 2026. New heatwave alerts have been sounded across Europe.
| Photo Credit: REUTERS
In response to a new heatwave alert across Europe, France has partially banned the consumption of alcohol.
Why?
The restriction is a public health measure as part of reducing heat-related illnesses.
Alcohol affects the body in many ways that become more dangerous if the person is also exposed to extreme heat. It causes the body to produce more urine, and thus increases the risk of dehydration. It impairs the body’s ability to regulate temperature by dilating blood vessels in the skin and suppressing the hormone vasopressin. And it lowers their awareness of early warning signs such as dizziness and nausea and makes them less likely to seek shade or drink water.
These risks are compounded at large outdoor events like the annual Fête de la Musique, where people may spend hours standing in crowded spaces under direct sunlight.
As Reuters reported, “After a crisis meeting, Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu pre-emptively banned alcohol consumption on Sunday at the annual Fete de la Musique festivals and other public events” scheduled in the 35 regions with heat alerts.
It added that Paris authorities had “ordered parks to remain open around the clock”. Since the city is a concrete jungle, parks could keep people cool at night.
Since the deadly 2003 heatwave in Europe, which killed nearly 15,000 people in France alone, French authorities have adopted more interventionist responses to heat, including opening cooling centres, checking on vulnerable residents, and restricting activities that could increase health risks.
Published – June 22, 2026 07:15 am IST
