Paris police have temporarily imposed a ban on alcohol in the French capital as record temperatures stretch the health system to its limits.
From Friday until Sunday morning, the sale of alcohol is prohibited and the consumption of alcohol in public spaces is banned, the police said on Thursday.
Restaurants and pubs are exempt from the ban.
Hospitals in the Greater Paris area are already operating at full capacity due to the heatwave, with new patients being admitted constantly, according to police chief Patrice Faure.
The ban aims to relieve the burden on hospitals and emergency services by preventing additional alcohol-related call-outs, he said.
The highest crisis alert level has already been declared for hospitals across France.
With temperatures reaching up to 41 degrees Celsius in the capital, doctors are already advising against any alcohol consumption, as it increases the risk of heatstroke, said the police chief.
An alcohol ban in Paris during last Sunday's Fête de la Musique celebration already helped significantly curb disturbances and emergencies, he said.
After several days of such high temperatures, the streets of Paris are sweltering and people's homes are barely cooling down at night.
