Oktoberfest - Wiesnmaß cracks the 15 euro mark
The Mass beer at Oktoberfest costs between 13.60 and 15.30 Euro this year. This represents an average increase of 3.9%, and for the first time, the price of the festival beer surpasses 15 Euro, as Munich announced on a Wednesday.
In the previous year, the price range for a liter of festival beer was 12.60 to 14.90 Euro. Munich, as the organizer of Oktoberfest, checks to ensure that the prices calculated by the tavern keepers are reasonable. They compare these prices with those of the large catering businesses in Munich, which currently charge between 7.70 and 12.80 Euro per liter for export.
However, there are additional costs for Wiesnbier. It is brewed specifically for the festival and has an alcohol content of approximately 6%. The tavern keepers also have significant expenses for setting up and taking down the tents for the two weeks, and there is live music. Since 2004, beer prices at the Wiesn have approximately doubled: In the early 2000s, a Mass still cost between 6.70 Euro and 7.10 Euro.
Even non-alcoholic beverages on Oktoberfest will be more expensive this year: A liter of table water costs an average of 10.48 Euro (2023: 10.04 Euro), Spezi 12.23 Euro (11.65 Euro), and Limonade 11.67 Euro (11.17 Euro).
Free water
The good news: Those who want to save money and quench their thirst for free can use the water fountains. Ten of them are available on the Theresienwiese this year, double the number from last year.
The setup of the large festival tents began on a Monday. On September 21st, it will once again be "Ozapft is!". Six million visitors are expected between then and October 6th. In the South part of the festival grounds, the Oide Wiesn with historical amusement rides and young folk music will take place this year.
In the previous year, 7.2 million guests came, the most since decades. They consumed 6.5 million liters of beer. The amount of chicken and oxen consumed was not disclosed. They too are likely to be significantly more expensive this year: The German government raised the value-added tax on food in the catering industry from 7 to 19% in January, as it was before the Corona pandemic.
- Visitors planning to attend Oktoberfest in Munich, Bavaria, should be aware that the prices of drinks have increased this year.
- The organizer of Oktoberfest, Munich, ensures that the prices of drinks, including the famous Wiesn beer, are reasonable compared to those of large catering businesses in the city.
- Beer enthusiasts attending Oktoberfest should expect to pay between 13.60 and 15.30 Euro for a Mass of beer, making it the first time the price surpasses 15 Euro.
- While beer prices have doubled since 2004, festival-goers can save money by utilizing the free water fountains located around the Theresienwiese.
- With the increase in drink prices and the German government raising the value-added tax on food in the catering industry, it is likely that other festival staples, such as chicken and oxen, will also be more expensive this year.
