Deutsche Bahn to Ban Alcohol at All 5,400 German Train Stations

Deutsche Bahn plans to ban alcohol at all of its approximately 5,400 train stations in Germany. The nationwide rollout of the new measure is set to be completed by October 15, Bild reported on Tuesday. The paper also quoted Deutsche Bahn CEO Evelyn Palla as saying: "Enough is enough. We are now cracking down even harder."

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Palla: "Order and Safety" for Staff and Travelers

"We want more order and safety at our stations and on our trains," Palla continued. "For me, only one thing counts: protecting our colleagues and our travelers."

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Ban Already in Place at 30 Major Stations

According to the report, a ban on alcohol consumption already applies at around 30 major German stations, including Hamburg, Cologne and Munich. Deutsche Bahn now intends to extend the rule nationwide under its domestic authority (Hausrecht). The local house rules are to be adjusted in the coming weeks in coordination with municipalities and authorities.

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What the Ban Covers and What It Doesn't

According to the report, the ban is specifically targeted at direct alcohol consumption on platforms and in station halls. Exempted from the rule is service within station restaurants and bars. Carrying still factory-sealed alcoholic beverages in bags will also remain permitted under the plans.

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Enforcement and Penalties

Compliance with the ban is to be monitored by DB security personnel and federal police, "Bild" further reported. Anyone caught illegally consuming alcohol faces an immediate expulsion from the premises. Repeated violations could result in a permanent ban from the premises.

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Renewed Attack Fuels Safety Debate

The debate over safety on trains and at stations has been ongoing for months. On Friday evening, another incident occurred on the rail line between Offenburg and Karlsruhe, in which a DB employee was seriously injured. The incident apparently stemmed from a ticket check on an intoxicated man, though the exact circumstances remain unclear.

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Police Union: Ban "Justified" but Hard to Enforce

Given the recent outbursts of violence, Alexander Poitz, deputy federal chairman of the police union (Gewerkschaft der Polizei, GdP), told broadcasters RTL and ntv that he considers an alcohol ban "justified." However, he noted that the ban would also need to apply on trains, not just stations. He also said it would be difficult to enforce without additional personnel: "I believe that consistently monitoring and completely removing alcohol from stations and trains won't be possible."

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