Oktoberfest opens on September 17, 2022 in Munich, Germany (AFP/Christof STACHE)
The Oktoberfest in Munich (southern Germany) opened on Saturday after being canceled two years in a row due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The return of this great popular holiday comes against a backdrop of more expensive beer: the Russian invasion of Ukraine has pushed up the prices of raw materials and energy and forced several breweries to pass on these costs to the price of beer. beverage.
As tradition dictates, the mayor of Munich, Dieter Reiter, kicked off the festivities by puncturing the first keg of beer with a hammer, offering the first mug to the head of the regional state of Bavaria, Markus Soder.
Scheduled to last until October 3, the Festival must take place without any health constraints or the obligation to wear masks.
The Beer Festival, or “Oktoberfest”, normally brings together more than 5 million people, including a third from abroad, in particular from Asia. It usually generates 1.2 billion euros in economic benefits.
The cancellation in 2020 was the first since World War II. In 1854 and 1873, it had not taken place because of cholera epidemics.
The production of hops and beer is elevated to the rank of national cult in Germany and especially in Bavaria.
Germans are among the biggest beer consumers in Europe with 84 liters per capita in 2021.
Friday, on the eve of the opening of the “Oktoberfest”, the Federation of German Brewers alerted the government to the difficulties of the sector.
Oktoberfest opens on September 17, 2022 in Munich, Germany (AFP/CHRISTOF STACHE)
“Many companies have reached their limits to overcome the shocks caused by excessive increases in the prices of gas, fuel, electricity, agricultural materials, packaging or logistics, all this coupled with growing disruptions in supply chains”, a- she wrote in a statement.
“The government must act and not leave companies alone with their problems. Without rapid state intervention and effective aid, hundreds of companies in the German beverage sector will disappear and thousands of employees will find themselves without jobs. “, she warns.
© 2022 AFP
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