Paris halts alcohol sales to help hospitals amid deadly heat wave, as scientists blame human-caused climate change
CBS News • • sports
Key Points:
- Paris authorities have banned public consumption of alcohol, except in outdoor seating areas of bars and restaurants, and prohibited take-home alcohol sales to reduce hospital admissions related to dehydration during a record-breaking heat wave.
- The heat wave has led to at least 55 drownings across France as people seek relief in bodies of water, with concerns that the death toll may rise.
- The Netherlands issued its first-ever red heat alert, warning of temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit and urging the public to follow safety guidance.
- A study by the World Weather Attribution organization attributes the extreme heat wave in Europe unequivocally to human-caused climate change, noting that such temperatures would have been nearly impossible 50 years ago.
- The study highlights that Western Europe is experiencing temperature increases at rates significantly higher than the global average, emphasizing the urgent need for rapid fossil fuel phase-out to prevent even more severe heat events.
