By The European Times | Created at 2026-07-29 10:17:45 | Updated at 2026-08-05 02:39:41
6 days ago
Deutsche Bahn, Germany’s national rail operator, has announced that it will ban alcohol at all stations on its network by October 15th, for safety. The measure aims to increase safety and improve cleanliness for staff and passengers, Euronews reports.
The ban will be phased in at all 5,400 stations by October 15th. Exceptions are planned for bars and restaurants located in stations.
The restriction is already in effect at 30 stations, including in Cologne, Hamburg and Munich. From September 1st, it will cover Berlin’s main station and Gesundbrunnen station, as well as several other locations, before being extended nationwide.
“We have seen too often that violence increases where too much alcohol is consumed,” Deutsche Bahn CEO Evelyn Pala said in a statement.
She cited a “brutal and senseless attack” last week in which a drunk passenger allegedly punched and kicked a security guard during a ticket check. The officer fell through the door of a moving train and was injured.
Violators of the ban will be removed from stations, and repeated violations could result in a permanent ban on entry.
Deutsche Bahn said station restaurants would not be affected. People would be able to carry unopened bottles and cans of alcohol in their luggage or shopping bags. The ban would not apply on trains, where alcoholic beverages are sold in restaurant cars on many long-distance routes.
The rail network of Germany, the most populous country in the European Union, has a total length of around 33,400 kilometers and is used by an average of 50,000 trains per day. According to the infrastructure division of Deutsche Bahn, it is the largest rail network in Europe.
Illustrative photo: pexels-ling-xu-2153843948-33794862
