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Football fans cause beer sales boom on German trains

26 June 2024 By Louis Thomas

Deutsche Bahn, Germany’s national railway operator, has said that the arrival of the Euro 2024 tournament has resulted in a huge spike in onboard drinks sales.

The football tournament has seen an influx of fans from across Europe, with stories abounding about Scotland fans drinking Munich dry and England fans being denied access to strong beer, but, as reported by DW, it seems that Deutsche Bahn is managing to keep supporters topped up.

Between 14, when the tournament kicked off, and 19 June, the rail service was reportedly used by three million people, with 44,588 litres of beer drunk onboard – around double what it would be normally.

Deutsche Bahn has a partnership with Starnberger Brauhaus, which is based in Feldafing, Bavaria, serving bottles of its Starnberger Hell onboard. It also offers Jever Fun Alkoholfrei Pilsener. Draft beer is also reportedly available in the dining car, with a 500ml pour of Bitburger Premium Pilsener setting passengers back a respectable €4.60.

Passengers are also permitted to bring and consume their own alcohol on the trains too.

The data also reveals that in the first few days of the group stages, passengers were hungry as well as thirsty, with a 63% increase in onboard sales of bratwurst in buns.

In order to cater for the huge demand from supporters for trains to take them to each of the host cities, Deutsche Bahn also claims to have laid on an extra 10,000 seats a day on match days – however, the service has been blighted by delays and cancellations too, much to the frustration of football fans.

England fans have also been left frustrated, and not just by the team’s lacklustre performances – the “Champagne flute-style” Kölsch beer glasses have also caused much bemusement.

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