Germany edition

Oktoberfest revellers shun beer for condoms

Published: 7 Oct 08 15:53 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/society/20081007-14743.html

Cold and clammy weather at this year’s Oktoberfest might have put some visitors off beer, but it also apparently encouraged people to cuddle up for warmth – and buy more condoms.

The Local's guide to Oktoberfest - Lifestyle (15 Sep 11)
Six million visit Munich's beer bash - National (5 Oct 08)

Some six million revellers at the Munich festival quaffed 6.6 million litres of beer and devoured 104 whole oxen. But lousy weather – rain and temperatures around 11 degrees Celsius – meant beer consumption actually dropped by five percent compared to last year.

Still, that didn’t mean the 175th Oktoberfest wasn't a good party. According to daily newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung on Tuesday, the chilly weather inspired lots of Wiesn visitors to huddle closer together for warmth - which seems to have had wider repercussions.

The paper reported that Munich pharmacies sold record amounts of condoms during the 16-day beer festival. Some store inventories were completely cleared out of prophylactics. Condom maker Durex said they sold 1.5 million rubbers during the last fortnight – 21 percent more than the entire month of August.

Gerald Schreiber, a marketing manager for Durex, expressed his excitement over the potential synergies of the world’s largest beer orgy and his company’s prophylactics: “With that kind of turnover maybe we should think about developing a special Wiesn condom!”

Schreiber did not indicate whether the company would consider naming any future Oktoberfest condom the Weißwurst, or if they would opt instead for the more traditional Bavarian blue and white checked colour scheme.

The Local (news@thelocal.de)


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