Munich, famous for its world-renowned Oktoberfest beer festival, will inaugurate its first alcohol-free Biergarten (beer garden) on Thursday. This move acknowledges the changing drinking habits of partygoers and the growing frustration with public binge drinking.
Named Die Null (The Zero), the Biergarten, located near the main railway station of the Bavarian capital, will exclusively serve soft drinks, mocktails, juices, water, and non-alcoholic beers. The initiative aims to shed the area’s boozy, seedy image. The operators, including nearby restaurants, hotels, and cultural venues, have long complained about tourists and locals engaging in excessive drinking around the station, which tarnishes Munich’s global beer-friendly reputation.
Guests at the open-air establishment can bring their own food and enjoy free live entertainment from bands, choirs, solo artists, DJ dance nights, and youth parties. The city administration stated that Munich aims to “upgrade” the area and re-anchor it in the center of society as beer consumption continues to decline in Germany.
Florian Schönhofer, a bar owner and supporter of Die Null, explained that the venture is not about permanently rejecting alcohol but about showcasing attractive alternatives. He observed a “dissolution of boundaries” regarding alcohol consumption over his 20 years in the trade, with young professionals casually drinking on commuter trains. Despite positive feedback on the initiative, Schönhofer admitted it might not be profitable since patrons are less likely to consume multiple non-alcoholic drinks as they do with beer.
A municipal taskforce has been striving to curb the raucous, alcohol-fueled crowds around Munich’s railway station and city parks, aiming to enhance safety and curb violent crime and drug dealing. Die Null, set to be opened by Munich’s mayor, Dieter Reiter, will operate until September 15, just before Oktoberfest begins.
Last year, a church convention in Nuremberg tried a one-day non-alcoholic beer garden, and a pub in nearby Großenohe, already gluten and lactose-free, recently removed alcohol from its menu. German beer consumption has been declining since the 1990s, with the average per capita consumption now at 88 liters a year, placing Germany behind the Czech Republic, Austria, and Poland.
This shift in drinking habits has endangered some traditional German breweries, while others have turned to non-alcoholic beers, which are gaining popularity for their excellent taste, lower calorie content, and absence of hangovers. Additionally, Germany recently became the first major EU country to legalize personal recreational cannabis use.
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