• Germany edition
Photo: DPA

Oktoberfest hikes beer prices for 200th anniversary

Published: 26 May 10 17:11 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/society/20100526-27441.html

Germany's world-famous beer festival Oktoberfest said Wednesday that it has upped the price for its huge mugs of amber nectar to almost €9 for this year's 200th anniversary event.

A Maß of beer, a litre, will cost between €8.30 and €8.90 at the tents of the southern German city of Munich from September 18 to October 4, an increase of €0.30 from last year.

Food vouchers, required for a reservation in many beer tents, will cost between €26.80 and €80.

The beer festival attracted 5.7 million visitors from around the world in 2009, down from six million in 2008 because of the global recession. But the revellers still managed consumed 6.5 million litres of beer.

This year's edition will be one day longer than usual and feature a historic reconstruction of the festival in former centuries including an old Oktoberfest tent and twice-daily horse races.

Conceived in 1810 as a celebration of the marriage of King Ludwig to some innocent young princess named Therese, the original Oktoberfest was an organised tournament of military horse races on the Wiese, or meadow, where it’s been held ever since.

After a few years everyone realised that horse racing was really boring compared to drinking beer from chalices the size of your head, and the greatest party in the world was born.

AFP/The Local (news@thelocal.de)

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Your comments about this article:

19:57 May 26, 2010 by The-ex-pat
Whilst we've probably been over this a brazilian times, why exactly do you think it's a rip-off?

The question is would you pay DM20 for a beer, I think not, but at €10 it is half price, a snip, sale of the century, a real deal. löl
20:09 May 26, 2010 by JohnnesKönig
Hey all you Brits and Amis stay home! see if we care! Otherwise komm and leave your money... hihi
21:17 May 26, 2010 by derExDeutsche
As per ususal, You can find me in the Kafer Zelt.

You can get a table reservation, but you have to know somebody. I happen to be a Family friend of the Kafer clan. However, I must say, I can't tell if its getting louder and ruder every year, or I am just getting older. And why do I feel, lately, like there are hardly any 'Germans' left? lol. And have there always been that many 'Passouts' on the grounds? Maybe I AM getting old.

I can only take it for 1 day a year.
22:11 May 26, 2010 by Keydeck
The-ex-pat, not sure what you're smoking but you seem to be living in a different decade and somewhat unaware of what Oktoberfest entails.
23:47 May 26, 2010 by wxman
Ha! The increase is more than off set by the decrease in the Euro's value against the dollar, so this year Oktoberfest will actually be cheaper!
00:32 May 27, 2010 by Talonx
@wxman

The Euro still has more purchasing power than the dollar. Stop arguing about how awesome second place is.
08:25 May 27, 2010 by OkieinBerlin
Munich Oktoberfest: overcrowded, overpriced, overhyped!! Beer swilling with 100,000 drunken sots, just in the tents -- what a great time! You might try one of Munich's many biergartens -- you'll find the a better festive atmosphere: less crowded, more reasonably priced, without the brainless drunkenness.
10:20 May 27, 2010 by MunchingInMuenchen
8 Euro for beer - fine.

30 Euro for food - good.

Free cleavage everywhere - priceless!!!!
10:36 May 27, 2010 by The-ex-pat
22:08 May 26, 2010 by sarabyrd

The-ex-pat, welcome to 2010. The DM ceased to be German currency in 2002.

You don't say!!!!!!!!! You are missing the point. When the DM ended, everything was suddenly half price, that being 2 DM to 1 Euro. Now the original question, would you have paid DM20 for a beer??

22:11 May 26, 2010 by Keydeck

The-ex-pat, not sure what you're smoking but you seem to be living in a different decade and somewhat unaware of what Oktoberfest entails.

Oktoberfest entails screwing the customer for as much money as possible, nothing more nothing less. Been once, will not be going again.

You are both missing the point. It is not called the Teureuro for nothing. Oktoberfest is all about making as much money as possible, i.e screwing the customer as much as possible.
00:10 May 28, 2010 by wxman
@Talonx, don't read so much into my statement. I was simply pointing out that it would be cheaper this year. Try not to be so kneejerk.
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