I can’t think of anything more strict or traditional to come out of Bavaria…
I, for one, willkommen our 4th20 Reich
This is only to be expected, as is the inclusion of weed tents and smoking areas once they see it’ll make them money.
People making money don’t want things to change until it’s clear they can make more money.
Context: Bavaria is our Texas.
I am all for cannabis legalisation, and have fought for it for years,even though I don’t like to consume it (only makes me sick…)
BUT: I have been a medic on the Oktoberfest for a decade and while these times are long gone, I absolutely support the ban there.
Here’s why: First Alcohol and THC do not mix well. At all. In more than 20 years of emergency medicine I saw two THC overdoses - which were easy to handle. But high dose alcohol AND THC is a massive problem and will lead to people getting admitted to ICU for monitoring purpose as it is beyond what the (very advanced) medical services at the Oktoberfest can handle themselves. And ICU beds are in absolute short supply. So while alcohol is a problem and I wish the local government would put more pressure on the waiters to force them to refuse to deliver “the final Maß”(last beer) that pushes people over the edge, my former colleagues can easily handle that. But mixed-agent intoxication is a totally different beast. Don’t get me wrong, Alcohol will be the main nox in these cases - but the combination is the problem.
Furthermore the Oktoberfest is crowded as hell. And there is literally zero chance that one is able to smoke without interfering with someone else - staff, other visitors, etc. And just like nicotine letting someone else co-consume without asking them for approval is inconsiderate as fuck - especially as there are drugs that do not mix well with THC, even more so even alcohol comes into play.
I’ve seen (and been) enough instances of someone going from “very drunk” to “completely fucked” as soon as they smoke weed that I’m inclined to agree.
They can go nicely together in reasonable doses, but if you get shit-faced drunk, weed is almost always going to make that worse.
Save the weed for the hangover.
Or, if you’re not a dumb tourist who likes being scammed, don’t go to the Oktoberfest.
Yes. Oktoberfest is enjoyable if you drink at a measured pace and avoid crowded weekends. Guzzling lots of beer quickly means you’ll miss all the fun, and you could guzzle beer anywhere for less money. Adding cannabis to an already tricky evening will not help you enjoy the event. Security for families and visitors is already currently very tricky. They do an amazing job keeping it going as it is. I also like the Munich local village and town beerfests. No crowds, no problem getting tables, and lots of tradition. Sadly the Munich Spring beerfest now gets as crowded as the Oktoberfest. The Dachau beerfest needs reservations too. But the rest are great.
Why not? I’ve always thought I’d like to go there once (and likely only once)
It’s a tourist trap with ridiculously inflated prices. If you want to experience genuine Bavarian beer culture, just visit any beer garden or any small town beer fest in Bavaria. At the Oktoberfest, you’ll mainly experience lots of drunken tourists pissing and vomiting in places where you should do neither. Also they’ll sell you one half filled glass of beer at a price you’d pay for many full ones any place else.
