Paris, France. The mercury is climbing and so is the desperation. France has slapped a ban on alcohol at public festivals as a blistering red heatwave alert descends on Europe.
Sources confirm the government is scrambling to prevent a public health catastrophe as temperatures are forecast to exceed 40 degrees Celsius across large parts of the country. The measure, effective immediately, covers all organised events including music festivals, fairs, and outdoor gatherings. Police have been authorised to seize booze and disperse crowds.
This comes after a string of heat-related deaths in neighbouring countries. Uncovered documents from the French health ministry reveal a staggering 22% increase in emergency room visits due to dehydration and heatstroke over the past week. The ban is a desperate attempt to keep people sober enough to stay hydrated and avoid compounding the crisis.
The red alert, the highest level, covers 20 departments in a swathe from the Mediterranean coast to the Loire Valley. Local authorities have also activated cooling centres and extended park hours. But the real story here is the growing failure of governments to prepare for climate extremes.
The same week that France bans alcohol, the UK is bracing for record highs and a collapse in infrastructure. The money trail leads to inaction: decades of underinvestment in climate adaptation and a reliance on last-minute controls that do little more than shift blame. This heatwave is not a freak event.
It is a predictable consequence of inaction. And the ban on alcohol is a symbol of how little our leaders have left in their arsenal.
