The famous German beer festival Oktoberfest, which attracts millions of visitors from all over the world, opened its doors yesterday in Munich after a two-year absence due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In its 200-year history, the largest festival of its kind worldwide has only been canceled 26 times, mostly due to two world wars, but also twice due to cholera outbreaks.

The last time it was organized in 2019, its 6.3 million visitors drank over 7.3 million liters of German beer.

The opening of the festival was made by the mayor of Munich Didier Reiter, who opened a beer barrel with a hammer and offered the first glass to the head of local government Markus Sender.

The festival will be open until October 3 without some measures, such as the mandatory use of a mask.

Oktoberfest brings in about 1.2 billion euros.

Germans are among the largest beer consumers in Europe with an average annual consumption of 84 liters for 2021.

The German Brewers’ Federation DBB has briefed the government on the many challenges it is facing due to the war in Ukraine, including rising energy prices and supply chain issues.

“The government must act… Without prompt government intervention and assistance, hundreds of businesses in the German beverage sector will disappear and thousands of people will be left without work,” the Federation stressed.

Source: RES-EMI