France bans some outdoor drinking as heat wave threatens Europe

France put emergency services and military forces on wildfire alert, restricted public alcohol consumption and canceled some outdoor sports events to cope with a heat wave scorching parts of Europe. About a third of France is under the heat red alert Sunday, when temperatures are expected to reach 104 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas. The forecast for Monday is even hotter. National and local authorities across Europe have announced a raft of measures to minimize the risks posed by the heat. The Eiffel Tower and other Paris venues set up misting stations to cool crowds. Tourists in Rome sought relief in fountains. Spain's Basque Country canceled some sports and cultural events. France's annual Music Day on Sunday is of particular concern. The nationwide summer solstice celebration involves thousands of concerts in village squares, rave venues and Paris clubs, bringing communities together and increasingly drawing British and other international visitors. The French government has banned public drinking in "red alert" zones, and ordered organizers of music day events to limit alcohol use to "preserve emergency services and allow medics to concentrate on taking care of the most vulnerable." Young boys prepare to dive in the Seine River south of Paris, Friday, June 19, 2026. Thibault Camus via AP High temperatures threaten thousands In a region where air-conditioning isn't widespread, this kind of heat is deadly. …