I thought BYO restaurants don’t have a license for selling alcohol. I think that German restaurants all have this license, and they probably want to sell their own drinks only. I like the BYO style, but sometimes it is annoying when you want to go to a nice restaurant and you find out they only have BYO, which means you need to turn around and find a place to buy alc (if you want some beer or wine with your food).

I only know one word, saumensch!

@ missyCola: Hmmm, yes I had thought about this. So maybe it is easier to get a license to sell alcohol here, and that is why all restaurants do (and don’t BYO)? I agree that BYO isn’t always the fanciest dining experience, but as a poor student it was always nice to go and get a cheap meal with friends, with an even cheaper bottle of wine! I guess we saw it as more of an advantage in that way.

@ Tom: I hope you’re not talking about me!

In Bavaria they have BYO… only you don’t get to bring your alcohol. You bring food, and they only sell beer.

There was no prohibition in Germany (not in Kiwiland probably either), and, yes, virtually all Restaurants have a licence and alcoholic beverages are not as highly taxed as in other countries and hence cheaper.

You do BYO at private (student) parties, though, where amount and money come into play again.

Happy now?

@Christopher: that is possibly the most Bavarian thing I have ever heard of. I must try it.

@Helmut: Always happy! Only ever curious… but yes, you’re right. Germany (and Europe in general) seems to have a more relaxed attitude toward alcohol. I think it’s a good thing! Binge drinking and alcohol abuse are a big problem in NZ, where it as treated as a big no-no until you are of age. I think the European approach is much more healthy for society.

@ Miss-Verstaeaeaendnis:

Well, if you consider the UK not part of Europe (as they do themselves), then your statement “Europe in general” is alright; however, esp. in the Scandinavian countries, there is some problem with [cheap] alcohol - ever went on a ferry boat with them?

@ Miss-Verständnis: As a Kiwi who was living in Hamburg only a short time ago, I can definitely agree with you about binge drinking in NZ and the seemingly much more responsible behaviour in Germany. When I first had a bier on the S-Bahn (and felt like a true Hamburger!) I could feel the social stigma coming all the way from the Antipodes. In saying that, when I was living on the Reeperbahn you did kinda notice the less ‘healthy’ side of all the cheap, readily available alcohol.

Not only is alcohol freely available but you can get it at virtually any hour of the day and consume it more freely.

Living in Stuttgart in the sixties I would celebrate the start of the weekend by going into town each Saturday morning around 8.30, grabbing the morning paper and a beer and consuming them at a Stehtisch out on the pavement in front of the store.

At this period back home in Australia drinking of alcohol was severely controlled by legislation, so that both drinking in a public place and at this hour were out of the question, not to mention the drinking age in some States being 21 against 18 in Germany.

Harzer

In fact, Germany is one of the few countries where you’re actually allowed to drink beer, wine and champagne at the age of 16!