PARIS, France — French authorities will ban public alcohol consumption and takeaway alcohol sales in Paris beginning Friday as hospitals across the capital face increasing admissions during a record-breaking heatwave.
Paris police prefect Patrice Faure announced the measures on Thursday, saying hospitals in and around the French capital were nearing capacity as heat-related cases continued to rise.
“We are reaching a saturation point in hospital facilities,” Faure said. “The number of hospitalisations keeps increasing.”
Faure said the restrictions aim to reduce pressure on emergency services and hospitals.
Under an order issued Thursday, authorities will prohibit alcohol consumption in streets and other public places from 12 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday and again from 12 p.m. Saturday to 7 a.m. Sunday.
The ban does not apply to outdoor areas used by restaurants and bars that hold the required permits, according to the Paris police prefecture.
Authorities will also prohibit takeaway alcohol sales from 6 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday and from 6 p.m. Saturday to 7 a.m. Sunday.
The order covers retail stores that exclusively sell alcoholic beverages.
Faure said the Paris fire brigade responded to more than 2,500 incidents on Thursday, about double its normal number of operations.