France Bans Alcohol at Festivals as Heatwave Raises Risks

7 hours ago 4

Illustration of alcohol. Shutterstock

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - France is soaking up the sun with annual music festivities set to take over Paris and the rest of the country on Sunday, even as the national weather service warns of dangerous temperatures.

The Prime Minister's office said in a statement that it was banning the consumption of alcohol during nationwide Fete de la Musique ("festival of music") festivities in regional departments placed under the red heatwave alert from noon on Sunday.

"For all events organized by the state and its agencies, instructions have been given not to offer alcohol," the statement said following a crisis meeting called by Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu.

Meteo France, the national weather forecaster, issued the highest-level warning, a red heatwave alert, for 35 regional departments for Sunday, including Paris.

France set to experience really high temperatures beginning Sunday

Meteo France said temperatures are likely to reach 41 degrees Celsius in some areas on Sunday.

Temperatures on Monday are expected to be even higher, ranging between 37 degrees and 42 degrees Celsius.

Nationally, the heatwave will be similar to those in July 2019 and August 2003 in terms of day and night temperatures, Meteo France said on X.

In 2003, France saw an unprecedented heatwave that resulted in 14,800 deaths, most of them elderly people.

Fete de la Musique turns Paris into an open-air party

Fete de la Musique is one of the biggest annual events in France and has grown even more popular with the spread of social media.

The event drew nearly 2 million people to Paris last year, including visitors from countries such as the UK.

DJs, rock bands, choirs, French jazz, and classical musicians take over the city to celebrate the summer solstice, the longest day of the year.

However, last year's festivities sparked safety concerns after some people reported being pricked with syringes.

Authorities have since adopted a zero-tolerance approach and created designated spaces for women and people with disabilities in key locations.

Read: France: Veterans Mark 82nd Anniversary of D-Day in Normandy

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