Paris has imposed a temporary ban on drinking alcohol in public and on takeaway alcohol sales after emergency services reported a four‑fold increase in cardiac arrests in a single 24‑hour period during the heatwave. The measure, introduced by the city authorities, is designed to reduce pressure on overwhelmed hospitals and ambulance crews, which have been struggling with a surge in heat‑related emergencies.
Ambulance services in the French capital recorded double the usual number of call‑outs, many of them linked to dehydration and heat crises. The French health minister confirmed the sharp rise in cardiac arrests, prompting officials to act quickly to prevent people from turning to alcoholic drinks to quench their thirst – a practice that can have dangerous consequences in extreme temperatures.
The science of alcohol and heatstroke
Drinking alcohol during a heatwave is particularly hazardous because of a combination of physiological effects that the body cannot easily counter. Alcohol acts as a diuretic, increasing urine production and accelerating fluid loss. In hot weather, when the body is already losing significant amounts of water through sweat, this creates a “double whammy” that can lead to rapid dehydration. Symptoms range from headaches, dizziness and fatigue to confusion and seizures in severe cases.
At the same time, alcohol interferes with the body’s ability to regulate its core temperature – a process known as thermoregulation. Although a drink may initially make someone feel warmer because it dilates blood vessels near the skin (vasodilation), this effect actually hinders the body’s natural cooling mechanisms. The net result is a significantly elevated risk of heat exhaustion and life‑threatening heatstroke.
Impaired judgment and coordination add another layer of danger. Alcohol lowers inhibitions, making it more likely that individuals will underestimate the severity of the heat, fail to seek shade or hydration, or engage in risky activities such as swimming while intoxicated – a behaviour that sharply increases the risk of drowning. The combination of dehydration and poor sleep, often worsened by alcohol, also leads to more severe hangovers.
Particularly vulnerable groups – including the elderly, people with chronic conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease or heart problems, and those with mental health issues or alcohol dependence – face the highest risk of serious health consequences when alcohol and extreme heat are combined.
Wider threat across Europe
The crisis in Paris is part of a broader pattern across the continent. Health services in several European countries have reported a surge in emergency calls and hospital admissions during the record‑breaking heatwave. In London, the ambulance service experienced its highest number of life‑threatening emergency calls in a single day, underscoring the strain that extreme temperatures place on frontline responders.
Scientists have linked the increasing frequency and severity of European heatwaves to climate change, a backdrop that makes understanding the risks of alcohol consumption even more critical. Data show that Britons tend to drink more when the weather is warmer, with sales of beer and wine rising during summer months, often because of longer evenings, more social events and the marketing of alcohol companies, which promote the idea that drinking is essential for enjoying sunny weather.
Health experts advise that the safest approach on a very hot day is to avoid alcohol altogether. For those who do drink, the UK Chief Medical Officers’ low‑risk guidelines recommend no more than 14 units of alcohol per week, spread out with drink‑free days, and warn that binge drinking is especially dangerous in the heat. A practical rule is to drink one glass of water for every alcoholic drink, or two glasses in extreme heat. Alcohol‑free or low‑alcohol alternatives can also help reduce the risk of dehydration.
The Paris ban, while temporary, serves as a stark reminder that what might seem a harmless thirst‑quencher can, in a heatwave, become a direct contributor to cardiac arrest and other life‑threatening emergencies.