French authorities have imposed temporary restrictions on public alcohol consumption and takeaway alcohol sales as hospitals in Paris struggle with a surge in heat-related emergencies during one of Europe's most severe early-summer heatwaves in recent years.
The measures were introduced after Paris police chief Patrice Faure warned that hospital facilities in the French capital were approaching a 'saturation point' as temperatures climbed to record levels. The restrictions, which take effect over the weekend, are intended to reduce additional health risks and ease pressure on emergency services already dealing with rising hospitalisations and cardiac emergencies.
