People cool off in the fountains of the Trocadero Gardens, with the Eiffel Tower in the background, in Paris, France, on June 20, 2026. (Photo by Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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Festival-goers in France who were looking forward to having a beer during the country’s major musical celebration, Fete de la Musique, may have to find something else to sip on.
With Europe in the grips of a sweltering heatwave, the nation’s leaders are taking precautions, and one of those safeguards is stopping people from drinking in some public places.
Big picture view:
On Saturday, the Prime Minister’s office directed officials to prohibit alcohol consumption in all public spaces that are under a red heatwave alert, according to Reuters. The order also includes Sunday’s annual Fete de la Musique festival if the concert venue will be under a red alert that afternoon.
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The backstory:
Meteorologists expect 35 of the country’s 96 departments to be under such an alert on Sunday as temperatures look to climb to 102-104 degrees Fahrenheit (39 to 40 degrees Celsius), with some places getting even hotter.
Hot across Europe
France is not the only European nation dealing with the heatwave. A Reuters reporter described sightseeing in Rome as a test of endurance near the Colosseum, as tourists sought out shade where they could, even if it was an old Roman temple.
Spain’s soccer federation shut down the outdoor fan zone that was set up in Madrid for Sunday’s World Cup match against Saudi Arabia, leaving fans looking for somewhere else to go watch the game.
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