Oktoberfest - Waiting for the Wiesn beer price: measure above the 15 euro mark?
Here is the translated text:
This is one of the most important news in Munich's annual beer festival: The city of Munich will soon announce the beer prices for Oktoberfest. It is already apparent that at least some tents will exceed the 15 Euro mark. The highest price last year was 14.90 Euro. In many tents, a liter cost 14.50 Euro, with an average price of 14.18 Euro.
The Munich Merkur/tz media group reported that some tents would charge over 15 Euro for a liter. The city confirmed this but did not specify which tents. Wiesn Chief Clemens Baumgärtner (CSU) stated in response to an inquiry: "The beer price announcement is made by the city of Munich." The prices are expected to be announced in the middle of next week.
However, the city does not set the prices. Brewers and tent owners submit their planned beverage prices, including for beer, Limonade, and mineral water. The city only checks if the proposals are reasonable. Mineral water cost over ten Euro in 2023 in many places. For the first time in 2023, there were ten free water fountains. Twice as many as the previous year.
Regardless of how the beer price turns out: It is - as part of the tradition - always an occasion for controversy. The beer brewed especially for Oktoberfest, considering the effort involved, is not that expensive. In the previous year, the price increase was in line with the average inflation rate in Germany - and below the higher price increase for food and catering. Furthermore, you get more alcohol for your money with Wiesn beer. Its alcohol content is around six percent.
A lawsuit about a beer tent will be heard in court this year. The owner of the Herzkasperl tent on the Oidn Wiesn did not receive a permit this year in favor of the Boandlkramerei owner and intends to have this decision overturned at the Bavarian Administrative Court (VGH). The Administrative Court Munich rejected the urgent application of the innkeeper. Against this, he filed a complaint. The VGH is expected to announce its decision on Friday. It's urgent - because on Monday, the construction of the beer tents begins on the Theresienwiese.
The Herzkasperl innkeeper received fewer points in the application process than the Boandlkramerei, but he criticizes its cultural program as inadequate. It is not the responsibility of the points system, which has been in place for over ten years, to create hereditary estates, Baumgärtner said. Music groups could also perform in another tent. "I see no loss of culture. I see that it's about the money."
City's beverage prices from the previous year
- The Munich Mercury/tz reported that some Oktoberfest tents will exceed the 15 Euro mark for a liter of beer, as announced by the city of Munich.
- Clemens Baumgärtner, the Wiesn Chief from the CSU party, stated that the city only checks if the proposed beverage prices, including beer, are reasonable.
- In 2023, mineral water cost over ten Euro in many places, making it a significant expense during Oktoberfest in Germany.
- Despite the beer price increases, the beer brewed for Oktoberfest is considered not expensive considering the effort involved, and its alcohol content is around six percent.
- The owner of the Herzkasperl tent is planning to sue the Bavarian Administrative Court due to not receiving a permit this year and intends to have the decision overturned.
- The city of Munich sets no fixed prices for drinks at Oktoberfest; brewers and tent owners submit their proposed prices, and the city only checks if they are reasonable.
- The beer price increase at Oktoberfest has been in line with Germany's average inflation rate in the previous year, with the price of food and catering seeing a higher increase.
