Germany's rail operator catches some 5,000 drinkers in first week of station ban
Drinking alcohol has been banned at all Deutsche Bahn stations since Oct. 15. The operator reports a positive first result, with CEO Evelyn Palla saying the clear message is working.
Symbolic image · Photo: Clic / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
Deutsche Bahn caught around 5,000 people drinking alcohol in the first week after a nationwide ban on alcohol consumption at its stations took effect, the company said, confirming a report by the Bild newspaper. The ban has applied since Oct. 15 at all of the operator's stations, including platforms, and is meant to make them safer and cleaner.
Security staff issue warnings first. Most of those caught cooperated and put their drinks away, and only in a few individual cases were people banned from the premises. "The clear message is working," CEO Evelyn Palla told Bild, adding: "We want safe and clean stations."
Restaurants and bars inside stations are exempt. Drinking on trains remains generally allowed, and long-distance trains even sell alcohol in their bistros. Exceptions may also apply where station buildings are not owned by Deutsche Bahn.