Alcohol ban at German railway stations begins without incident

Deutsche Bahn’s expanded alcohol ban at railway stations began without incident at four stations, the company told the German Press Agency.

Since Tuesday, the ban has applied at the main stations in Berlin, Kiel and Braunschweig, as well as Berlin Gesundbrunnen. More than 30 stations across Germany had already introduced similar restrictions, including the main stations in Bonn, Bremen, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Cologne and Munich.

Deutsche Bahn announced in July that it would gradually extend the ban to all 5,400 stations nationwide by mid-October. The company says the measure should improve safety for passengers and employees and help keep stations cleaner. It has described its previous experience with the policy as positive.

The restriction generally covers the entire station area, including platforms. At some locations, it also covers forecourts owned by Deutsche Bahn. Exceptions may apply where station buildings belong to other owners. Restaurants inside stations can continue to sell and serve alcohol, and passengers may carry alcohol with them. Only consumption is prohibited.

Passenger association Pro Bahn supports the ban in principle but says the railway still needs to explain how it applies to station pubs. “In the pub, you can drink as much as you want, but outside you cannot even have a shandy,” its honorary chairman Detlef Neuß told the Rheinische Post. He said the contradiction needed clarification.

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In the pub, you can drink as much as you want, but outside you cannot even have a shandy.