France cancels events and restricts alcohol consumption amid brutal heatwave

Authorities have put extra precautions in place near the River Seine and Canal St-Martin in Paris. Photograph: Arnaud Finistre/AFP/Getty Images View image in fullscreen Authorities have put extra precautions in place near the River Seine and Canal St-Martin in Paris. Photograph: Arnaud Finistre/AFP/Getty Images France cancels events and restricts alcohol consumption amid brutal heatwave Sports and nationwide music festival affected, with temperatures for some expected to reach 42C from Monday Authorities in France have placed more than a third of the country under a red heat alert, cancelled some outdoor sports events and restricted alcohol consumption at the nationwide Fête de la Musique event amid a brutal heatwave forecast to push temperatures above 40C. Level one or two heat alerts were issued on Sunday for about 53 million people, or 76% of the population. A record 35 of the country’s 96 mainland departments were put on danger-to-life red alert, with another 45 under an orange warning. The national weather service, Météo-France, said: “Very high temperatures are setting in for the long term,” with a heatwave of “exceptional severity and duration” likely to break monthly and possibly all-time records. It warned that temperatures could exceed 40C in many places on Sunday, with some areas facing rises to 42C or beyond from Monday. The national heat index, an average of day- and night-time highs at 30 weather stations nationwide, is also expected to hit its highest ever level, the forecasters added. Sunday’s Fête de la Musique is a nationwide summer solstice celebration held every year that sees musicians take over the streets with free performances and revellers party into the night. This year’s festival is a particular source of heat-related health concerns, especially in Paris , Lyon and other major cities. France’s culture minister, Catherine Pégard, urged “extreme vigilance” and said it should be up to local authorities to decide whether festivities should be cancelled or take place with suitable precautions. Most have opted for the latter. View image in fullscreen Crowds on the banks of Canal St-Martin in Paris on Saturday. Photograph: Arnaud Finistre/AFP/Getty Images Several towns have cancelled pre-7pm performances or moved them indoors. Many have introduced alcohol restrictions, with drinking banned on the street and in public spaces in areas on red alert and no alcohol on sale at municipally organised events. In Paris, which is under a red warning, stronger drinks including high-alcohol beers, fortified wines and spirits have been banned along the banks of the Seine and the Canal St-Martin, to reduce the risk of people falling in. However, drinking at licensed bars and cafes and their terraces – where many gigs take place – is permitted. Nearly 5,000 police have been deployed across the capital for the day and evening, as well as 2,500 emergency and health service workers. Paris city hall has also installed more than 1,300 free public