Deutsche Bahn plans to ban alcohol consumption at train stations in Germany
Deutsche Bahn, Germany's state-owned railway operator, plans to implement a nationwide ban on the consumption of alcoholic beverages at all train stations in the country by mid-October. The decision was made following a high-profile incident in which a security officer fell from a train after a scuffle with an intoxicated passenger.
Under the new rules, passengers will be prohibited from consuming beer, wine, spirits, and other alcoholic beverages on platforms and in station lobbies. The restrictions will not apply to restaurants, cafes, and other food and beverage establishments operating within the stations.
Deutsche Bahn reported that it plans to fully implement the new rules by October 15, 2026.
Company CEO Evelyn Palla stated that the decision is aimed at improving safety for passengers and railway employees.
“We are striving for greater order and safety at our stations and on our trains. For me, only one thing matters: protecting our colleagues and our passengers,” she emphasized.
The impetus for tightening the rules was a recent incident in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg. During a confrontation with an intoxicated passenger, a Deutsche Bahn security officer fell from a regional train.
Until now, the ban on alcohol consumption had been in effect only at certain major stations, including those in Frankfurt, Hamburg, and Cologne. The company now plans to extend the ban to all 5,400 train stations in Germany, exercising its right to set rules for conduct on its own premises.
Over the coming weeks, Deutsche Bahn is expected to coordinate changes to local regulations with municipalities and government authorities.
Deutsche Bahn security personnel, in cooperation with the federal police, will enforce the ban. Violators may be required to leave the station premises, and those who commit serious or repeated violations could face an indefinite ban from railway stations.
This was reported by Bild.
As a reminder, in Germany, a Deutsche Bahn security officer fell from a train traveling at a speed of about 120 km/h during a confrontation with a passenger.
On July 19, in the German city of Saarbrücken, 18 people—including adults and children—were stranded in gondolas due to a suspected technical malfunction on a cable car.
