Bahn draws a positive conclusion about the ban on alcohol at train stations

After a month, Bahn draws positive conclusions about the alcohol ban As of: November 14, 2026 • 11:07 a.m

The consumption of alcohol at train stations has been banned nationwide for a month. Deutsche Bahn is satisfied with its initial balance sheet. Less garbage, fewer conflicts - the situation has improved for travelers and employees.

One month after the introduction of the nationwide alcohol ban at train stations, Deutsche Bahn (DB) has drawn an initial conclusion - and it is positive. The ban ensures less garbage, fewer conflicts and an overall more pleasant environment for travelers and DB employees, a DB spokeswoman told Funke media.

Since the regulation came into force in mid-October, security forces have already spoken to more than 15,000 people who had been drinking alcohol at train stations. "In the vast majority of cases, the people spoken to are sensible and put the bottle away or leave the station. There were only a few cases where they were expelled," said the spokeswoman.

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The railway says it has increased the number of its security guards from 4,500 to 5,000 since last year. The ban on alcohol consumption is implemented by DB Security teams; the federal police are only called in to provide support in the event of a conflict.

According to the railway, travelers also rate the ban positively: “According to a current representative survey, 80 percent of those surveyed are in favor of a ban on alcohol consumption,” said the spokeswoman.

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Since October 15th, it has been prohibited throughout Germany to consume alcoholic beverages in train stations or on platforms outside of catering establishments. Deutsche Bahn had previously tested the ban at almost 40 train stations, including Cologne and Munich and Hamburg. The company had already rated these tests as a success.

There are different regulations on the trains. Whether alcohol can be consumed on local trains varies from region to region. Alcohol is generally permitted on long-distance trains as long as other passengers are taken into consideration.

The ban on alcohol at train stations is intended to reduce conflicts and improve the quality of stay. more

The Federal Working Group on Homeless Assistance had previously expressed criticism. “A ban does not change the living conditions of the people who are at the train station, it simply pushes them out of sight,” said its deputy managing director Joachim Krauss. This would push homeless people into areas “that offer less protection and have less access to the assistance system.”

The station mission also expressed similar concerns. She supports the alcohol ban in principle, but feared that this could simply shift the problems from the train stations to their immediate surroundings.

This topic in the program: The First | daily news | 11/14/2026 | 9:50 a.m