France has banned alcohol at some events of the annual Fête de la Musique national music festival on Sunday as a heatwave pushes temperatures towards record levels. The government imposed the ban on alcohol consumption in public places under red alert warnings covering a third of the country.

The office of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu stated that for all events organized by the state and its agencies, instructions have been given not to offer alcohol. Temperatures of 39-40°C (102-104°F) are expected from the southwest through the Paris region into Burgundy on Sunday, with some areas possibly reaching 41°C.

Temperatures are forecast to peak on Monday, and authorities have warned they could match historic highs. The government called for limits on alcohol consumption to preserve emergency and healthcare services and allow medical staff to focus on caring for the most vulnerable.

The heatwave has been ongoing for days, disrupting the country and forcing the cancellation of dozens of trains and the suspension of classes. France's weather service Météo-France said it was uncertain how long the heatwave, affecting about three-quarters of the population, would last.

To help Parisians and tourists cope with the heat, authorities are keeping parks and gardens in the capital open through the night. Fête de la Musique has been held for over 40 years, always on the summer solstice. Last year, about two million people attended events in Paris.

Source: www.bbc.com