French authorities are banning the consumption of alcohol in public in some parts of Paris as sweltering temperatures in parts of Europe clash with one of the country’s biggest nights of street parties.
A police command issued before the Fête de la Musique to ban the consumption of alcoholic beverages from 8 a.m. Sunday along the famous Canal Saint-Martin, including parts of Quai de Valmy and Quai de Jemmapes.
From 1pm, the sale of the same type of alcohol is also banned in the area, although licensed restaurants and bars are not allowed.
The order goes further along the Seine, where authorities banned the consumption, possession and transport of alcohol – including all drinks in glass containers – from 8am on Sunday in riverside areas surrounding several areas of Paris, Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis.
France went further than some of its neighbors by pairing heat warnings with restrictions on public drinking in parts of Paris, while Germany weather service issued heat and storm warnings as temperatures soared into the mid-30s Celsius.
The restrictions in Paris are part crowd control measure, part public health warning.
Paris police said street drinking had contributed to frequent riots, noise complaints and violence, and cited more than 1,000 fines issued under previous alcohol laws by 2025. But the immediate trigger is the combination of many outdoor parties and dangerous heat.
Medical authorities recommend avoiding alcohol during extreme heat, the order notes, because it increases dehydration and interferes with the body’s ability to regulate temperature — increasing the risk of heat stroke.
The move comes as France has been grappling with temperatures nearing 40 degrees Celsius in some areas, with emergency services, schools, railway operators and government officials under stress.
National authorities have put fire crews on alert, canceling or reducing some outdoor events and asking organizers in red alert areas to limit alcohol consumption so doctors can focus on the most vulnerable.
