The Local Germany

Give jobs to dry alcoholics, says charity

Tue, 05 Nov 2013 09:32:00 +0100

Companies should be forced to hire a minimum number of "dry" recovering alcoholics, an abstinence self-help group said Monday, as new figures showed alcoholism rates in Germany levelling out.

Drunk man falls asleep on top of horse

Tue, 29 Oct 2013 11:07:00 +0100

A woman in Bavaria made a startling discovery as she went to prepare for a morning ride – there was someone already on her horse, and he was passed out drunk on top of it having spent the night there.

Second brother dies after Indonesia booze night

Thu, 29 Aug 2013 13:06:00 +0200

A second German tourist has died following a drinking session in Indonesia – more than a week after his brother also died. But despite suggestions their booze could have been toxic bootleg, local police say they will not investigate.

'Spiked whiskey' kills teenage teacher

Tue, 27 Aug 2013 16:41:00 +0200

A German teenager has died and his brother left brain-dead after drinking suspected spiked whiskey on a trip to Indonesia.

Castle brewers defy beer makers death knell

Wed, 31 Jul 2013 09:41:00 +0200

A centuries-old Bavarian castle is home to one of several breweries making unique artisanal beers in a bid to carve out a niche in the bitter fight for Germany's shrinking market.

Drunken driver survives death-defying drop

Mon, 29 Jul 2013 10:50:00 +0200

A drunken driver whose car crashed through a bridge barrier and plunged 25 metres into a forest ravine has survived with just a few scratches.

German booze cheapest in Western Europe

Sat, 22 Jun 2013 17:43:00 +0200

Alcohol prices are much lower Germany than in most of the rest of the EU, new figures show, with a round of drinks only coming cheaper in three other EU states.

Oktoberfest beer price reaches heady heights

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 16:02:00 +0200

Oktoberfest publicans are hiking up beer prices again this year – but while they are bubbling up towards the unspoken limit of €10 for a litre Maß, nobody has yet dared exceed it.

States to toughen laws on drunken cycling

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:32:00 +0200

German state interior ministers are hashing out a plan to lower the amount of alcohol cyclists can legally consume before getting on their bikes.The measures come as figures show one in 10 bike accidents are the result of riders under the influence.

Men claim nearly 80 percent of driving points

Mon, 06 May 2013 17:38:00 +0200

German men have more points on their driving licences than women, largely due to drink driving, but according to figures released on Monday both genders have totted up the most points from the same offence – speeding.

Tougher smoking ban worries bar owners

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:10:00 +0200

Tough new anti-smoking laws come into force in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) on Wednesday. It is a coup for the state's government which took over last year – but publicans say the rules are too strict.

Brewers fear beer war

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 17:10:00 +0200

Stiff market competition and dwindling consumption are pushing German breweries and shops to cut beer prices by up to half, it was reported on Friday. Industry experts are worried a price war could even affect quality of the amber brew.

Nine German stereotypes debunked

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 12:49:00 +0200

Why isn't everyone wearing Lederhosen? It's easy for foreigners to stereotype Germany, but this week's Local List is dedicated to debunking common myths.

Drunk hitches ride on high-speed ICE train

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 10:00:00 +0100

A drunken reveler managed to hitch a ride on an ICE train over the weekend when a train driver took pity on the man after spotting him staggering down the train tracks.

German beer giants accused of price-fixing

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 11:37:00 +0100

Competition regulators are investigating more than a dozen large German breweries suspected of illegally fixing prices on popular beers such as Jever, Becks, Warsteiner and Erdinger, it emerged over the weekend.

Munich man rolled over by train survives

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 15:02:00 +0100

An intoxicated man has escaped relatively unscathed after tumbling onto the tracks at the Leuchtenbergring S-Bahn train station in Munich, police said on Sunday.

Justice minister brushes off drink-driving offence

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 14:22:00 +0100

After being stopped this week for drunk driving, the state justice minister of Lower Saxony said on Thursday the incident was embarrassing, but it would not affect his political career.

Chilly Karneval kicks off in the Rhineland

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 12:11:00 +0100

Germany's Karneval festivities got off to a chilly start on Thursday, as jesters stormed city halls across the Rhineland to kick off a week of booze, parties and parades.

Bigger vineyards 'a threat' to German wine

Sat, 05 Jan 2013 13:32:00 +0100

Plans to lift EU restrictions on the size and location of vineyards could pose a grave threat to German vintners, according to a report due to be published on Monday by Wirtschaftswoche business magazine.

Study: Germans gorge on more greens

Sat, 15 Dec 2012 13:47:00 +0100

Germans are eating more vegetables than a decade ago, new figures suggest, but do not yet appear willing to sacrifice the typical meaty fare of wurst, schnitzel and sauerbraten for the sake of their health.