No Smoking at Munich's Oktoberfest

Even though they don't have to comply until 2011, the Oktoberfest organizers are banning smoking on the festival grounds this year.

"That's what the people decided and we'll now comply with it," said spokesman Toni Roiderer on Sunday.
Voters in Bavaria backed a total smoking ban in a referendum held two weeks ago, however, city officials in Munich managed to secure Oktoberfest organisers a one-year reprieve, since there would be little time to alter the festival's iconic beer tents to accommodate smokers.

New signs at tent entrances will be set up to alert potential smokers, who will also receive a warning from wait staff. "If all else fails we can stop serving guests beer," said Hagn. "But we're not going to rip off anyone's arm." Read the rest of this article in The Local.

Oktoberfest is held on Theresienwiese almost every year since October 17th, 1810 which means 2010 is the 200th anniversary of the party! There are many beer tents selling specially brewed beers and food such as Schweinshaxn, Spanferkel (roast suckling pig), roast ox, fish skewers, roast chicken and sausages. Over 6 million people come from all over the world for this party, which is held September through the first week of October every year to take advantage of the warm "Altweibersommer" days (Indian summer).

_{Photo © Michael Chlistalla - Creative Commons Share Alike 3.0}

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