Oktoberfest without alcohol

Water, soda, Spezi: It doesn't always have to be Oktoberfest beer

Those who want to do without alcohol at the Oktoberfest have a wide choice of beverages. After all, not all Oktoberfest visitors focus on enjoying a good beer. Some simply don't like the popular barley juice, others perhaps still have to drive, are too young for it or generally don't drink alcohol. Here's what else there is to drink and how much it costs, from non-alcoholic beer to table water.

Sebastian Lehner

Alcohol-free beer in almost all festival tents

Those who prefer their beer alcohol-free will get their money's worth at the Oktoberfest. Almost all festival tents also offer non-alcoholic beer. Only in the Augustiner Festhalle, the Schützen Festzelt, Kuffler's Weinzelt and Feisinger's Kas & Weinstub'n and in the Fisch-Bäda is there no non-alcoholic beer - but of course numerous other non-alcoholic beverages.

The prices for a liter of non-alcoholic beer at the Oktoberfest are the same as for the respective alcoholic Oktoberfest beers in the festival tents. An overview of the beer and drink prices can be found here.

Quenching thirst with mineral water in the big tents

Some tents, such as the Schottenhamel, charge 9.80 euros for a liter of water. In other tents, such as the Augustiner Festzelt, you pay 10.20 euros. In the Schützen festival tent and many other tents, thirsty water drinkers are charged over 11 euros. In the wine tent one must plan for 14 euro for a liter sparkling, but alcohol and calorie-free benefit. The cheapest mineral water is available for 7.90 euros in the Goldener Hahn.

Free drinking water stations on the festival grounds

New this year are four drinking water stations, which were set up at the suggestion of several city council factions. They are located on the outside walls of the WC facilities in the central delivery street (behind the eastern beer tents). Visitors to the Oktoberfest can tap into fresh Munich drinking water free of charge.

This is what the other non-alcoholic drinks cost

Friends of the sweet drink and parents of children paid between 8.20 and 13.75 euros for the "Kracherl" at the Oktoberfest 2023, depending on the tent. Who would like to drink Spezi, thus a mixture from Cola and orange lemonade, pays in the meantime in each tent over 10 euro. Great exception: Glöckle Wirt (8.60 euros) Conclusion: If you know which tent to go to, you can save money by opting for non-alcoholic beverages rather than Oktoberfest beer.

Water for the Oktoberfest hangover

The best remedy against intoxication and an aching head the day after is of course — and for everyone, no matter if you’re from Munich or Tokyo — drinking in moderation. Tip: Drink about half a liter of water for each beer!

RAW, Exithamster
An den Trinkwasser-Stellen wurden rund 100.000 Liter Wasser gezapft.

Kostenfreie Trinkwasser-Stellen auf dem Festgelände

Neu im Jahr 2023 waren vier Trinkwasser-Stellen, die auf Anregung mehrerer Stadtratsfraktionen eingerichtet worden sind. Sie sind an den Außenwänden der WC-Anlagen in der Anlieferstraße Mitte (hinter den östlichen Bierzelten) angebracht. An ihnen können sich die Wiesn-Besucher*innen kostenfrei quellfrisches Münchner Trinkwasser zapfen.

Das kosten die anderen alkoholfreien Getränke

Freunde des süßen Getränks und Eltern von Kindern zahlten beim Oktoberfest 2023 je nach Zelt zwischen 8,20 bis 13,75 Euro für das „Kracherl“. Wer Spezi, also einen Mix aus Cola und Orangenlimo, trinken möchte, zahlt in jedem Zelt über 10 Euro. Große Ausnahme: Glöcke Wirt (8,60 Euro). Fazit: Wer weiß, in welches Zelt er gehen muss, kann sparen, wenn er sich für alkoholfreie Getränke und gegen das Wiesnbier entscheidet.

Wasser gegen den Wiesn-Kater

Das beste Mittel gegen den Rausch und einen schweren Kopf am Tag danach ist natürlich — und zwar für alle, ob aus München oder Tokio — das maßvolle Trinken. Ernstgemeinter Tipp: zu jeder Maß Festbier sollte man ungefähr einen halben Liter Wasser trinken!