Deutsche Bahn extends alcohol ban to all 5,700 stations

Deutsche Bahn has extended its ban on drinking alcohol to all 5,700 of its stations, drawing on what it describes as positive experience in Munich, BR reports. Two security officers at Munich Central Station say alcohol can contribute to conflict, while critics fear drinking will simply move to nearby public spaces.

Alcohol consumption has been prohibited at Munich Central Station since 2019. Security officers Christian Mittermeier and Bernd Wimmer patrol its halls, platforms and passageways, alongside two other teams working around the clock. Wimmer, who has worked for DB security for 23 years, says much of the job involves speaking with people and preventing disputes.

Mittermeier says alcohol can lower inhibitions and cause situations that might otherwise remain peaceful to escalate. DB security says alcohol-related conflicts have fallen since the ban was introduced in Munich. The company also reports positive experiences at stations in Cologne and Hanover.

The nationwide ban, which took effect on Thursday, applies in areas covered by Deutsche Bahn’s station rules, including station halls and platforms. Buying a bottle of beer before a journey or carrying alcoholic drinks in luggage is still allowed. Station restaurants are exempt.

Security staff are expected to first explain the ban to people who break it. Repeated violations can lead to a ban from the station. DB says about 80 percent of respondents in a representative survey supported alcohol-free stations, and that employees and local authorities are increasingly backing the measure.

Critics worry that drinking will shift to nearby public areas outside the railway company’s jurisdiction. At Würzburg Central Station, for example, the station forecourt begins just beyond the sliding doors and is not covered by DB’s rules. In Munich, alcohol consumption is also banned on the forecourt.

Wimmer says people in Munich have gradually grown used to the restrictions and most respond with understanding when approached politely. Deutsche Bahn also expects the nationwide ban to improve cleanliness, saying stations where it has already been in place have seen less litter. Whether those results will be repeated everywhere remains to be seen.