The French High Commission in New Caledonia has banned the sale of alcoholic beverages in shops for the first weekend of November.
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On Sunday 4 November voters will go to the polls in a referendum on independence from France.
Such a ban was also imposed in 1998 when a referendum was held on whether to approve the Noumea Accord which expires with the November vote.
Alcohol sale restrictions also apply on Wedesday and Friday afternoons before the vote as well as on 1 November because it is All Saints Day and a public holiday.
The High Commission has also indicated it will ban the transportation of arms from Saturday afternoon until Monday morning.
