“We will ensure the Oktoberfest is as good as possible”promised the mayor of the Bavarian capital, Dieter Reiter, for the 189my edition of the world’s largest folk festival, which runs until October 6.
Last year, the event broke all attendance records, welcoming 7.2 million visitors who consumed a total of 6.5 million litres of beer.
Metal detectors, searches at the entrance of visitors, surveillance cameras… the city of Munich has spared no means to prevent any potential danger. The country is still deeply shocked by a knife attack at the end of August, claimed by the jihadist group Islamic State and committed by a Syrian on the occasion of a large popular festival in Solingen, a city in western Germany celebrating its 650th anniversary.my birthday. It left three dead and eight injured.
In early September, Munich police shot dead a young Austrian known for his Islamist sympathies as he prepared to carry out a terrorist attack against the Israeli consulate general.
The Oktoberfest forces are also targeting drug use. Despite the legalisation of cannabis in Germany on 1 April, smoking joints will still be banned there.
In fact, the conservative government of the state of Bavaria has decided to ban the consumption of this drug on the terraces of cafés, restaurants and festivals. Any offender risks a fine of up to 1,500 euros.
Originating in the early 19th century, on the occasion of a marriage within the Bavarian royal family, the festival took place in October, as its name suggests. But its date was later brought forward to September to take advantage of the milder climate.
A recurring topic of debate, the price of beer has not escaped inflation in recent years: a one-litre mug will cost between 13.60 and 15.30 euros, or on average 3.87% more than last year, according to the Oktoberfest website. This is twice as much as in 2006.
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