The Préfecture de Police in Paris has temporarily banned public consumption of alcoholic beverages and introduced restrictions on takeaway alcohol sales over the weekend of June 26 to 28, 2026. The emergency measure was enacted as a record-breaking heatwave pushed hospitals and emergency medical services to their operational limits.
The restriction is in effect from Friday at 12:00 pm until Saturday at 7:00 am, and resumes from Saturday at 12:00 pm until Sunday at 7:00 am. It covers beverages in the French classification groups 3 to 5, which include beer, cider, wine, and spirits. Restaurants, cafés, and bars holding the necessary licenses are excluded from the prohibition, allowing customers to continue consuming alcohol on the premises.
Temperatures reached a June record of 40.9°C in Paris. According to Paris police chief Patrice Faure, hospitals had reached saturation point, while ambulance services handled around 2,500 call-outs per day—roughly twice the normal volume. French Health Minister Stéphanie Rist reported a fourfold increase in cardiac arrests within a 24-hour period.
In response, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu activated ORSAN Level 3, the highest level of health-system mobilization in France, while the national meteorological service Météo-France placed the capital under a red heatwave alert. Medical authorities explicitly recommended avoiding alcohol, as it acts as a diuretic and vasodilator, significantly worsening dehydration and impairing the body's ability to regulate its temperature.
To further mitigate health risks and ease the burden on medical staff, several large public events were canceled or postponed. These included the annual Paris Pride March and the Solidays music festival. The alcohol restrictions follow similar localized measures introduced during the nationwide Fête de la Musique earlier in June.
