- A beer garden at the Oktoberfest?
Alcohol-free is trending - even at Munich's Oktoberfest. While the festival is famous for its beer, water was also a hit last year. The demand for alcohol-free beer has slightly increased and was around four percent, said Oktoberfest spokesman Peter Inselkammer. Nationwide, the German per-capita consumption of beer last year was 88 liters, with about 8 liters being alcohol-free, according to the German Brewers' Association.
According to the association's CEO Holger Eichele, German alcohol-free beer is increasingly becoming an export hit - for example, to other EU countries and the USA.
However, there's skepticism at the Oktoberfest. An exclusive alcohol-free beer garden on the Wiesn, like the one recently opened near Munich's central station, is not supported by Oktoberfest chief Clemens Baumgaertner (CSU), Peter Inselkammer, and the second spokesman Christian Schottenhamel.
"It's just nonsense!" said Schottenhamel. No one is forced to drink alcohol in the beer gardens. And there is already an alcohol-free option, said Inselkammer. "Last year, people didn't switch to alcohol-free beer, but rather to other alcohol-free drinks," he said about consumer behavior. Sales of Spezi, soda, and apple juice increased significantly.
The Oktoberfest will take place in 2024 from September 21 to October 6.
The European Union has shown interest in German alcohol-free beer, as Holger Eichele, the association's CEO, mentioned its increasing popularity as an export hit to EU countries and the USA. Despite the increasing demand for alcohol-free options at Oktoberfest and nationwide, Oktoberfest chief Clemens Baumgaertner, along with Peter Inselkammer and Christian Schottenhamel, are skeptical about the need for an exclusive alcohol-free beer garden.
