• Germany edition
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Drinking culture: Oktoberfest gets odour-eating bacteria

Published: 8 Sep 10 11:42 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/society/20100908-29683.html

A new smoking ban at Munich's Oktoberfest means visitors to the world-famous beer bash won't leave smelling like an ashtray, but what about the stink of sweat, roasted chicken and stale alcohol? One businessman has the answer: an odour-eating bacteria.

The Suddeutsche Zeitung reported on Tuesday there might be some relief from the overwhelming stench created by hundreds of thousands of drunk and sweaty revellers filling the beer tents later this month.

With the pungent odour no longer set to be masked by cigarettes, local entrepreneur Hubert Hackl, who normally supplies Oktoberfest organizers with dishwashers and cleaning products, saw the chance to cash in by also providing hungry bacteria cultures.

The paper said Hackl’s micro-organisms will be spread underneath the floors of the beer tents to break down stinky waste and fat, allowing other sweeter Oktoberfest smells to prevail above.

The proprietor of the Hofbräu tent, Günter Steinberg, is a bacteria booster after already using the micro-organisms in previous years “wherever smells build up, for example at the bars.” But other Oktoberfest organisers are choosing more conventional means of combating odours by investing in better tent ventilation.

The Local/rm (news@thelocal.de)


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Your comments about this article:

14:05 September 8, 2010 by DinhoPilot
Deo for all? And mints?
15:43 September 8, 2010 by sorochin
God forbid that anything actually smell like anything. Unleash the chemicals! Yes, that's MUCH healthier and more pleasant.
19:33 September 8, 2010 by Beachrider
Will they work in my socks, too? If so, then there is just one more place...
21:35 September 8, 2010 by twizzer
Oh well !!, here comes the time for anybody who wants to take time off to get drunk and misbehave. It will be better this year with all the nice short leather trouser dressed men with their thick socks and boots....... not surprised the business guy took that opportunity to try reduce all those smells. Pooohhhh !!!!
19:44 September 12, 2010 by Ed Tracey
Even though the anti-smoking referendum passed, I thought there was a one-time exemption for Oktoberfest (a "grandfather clause", since reservations were made prior to the vote)?
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