Oktoberfest in the news: How people around see beer's birthday

Oktoberfest may not necessarily be "beer's birthday," but it comes very close, so this oversight may as well be ignored. One way or another, the gathering in October is one to be celebrated and appreciated even by people who are not drinkers per se. Much like a great system of roulette, for example Tier et Tout, Oktoberfest has far exceeded its original intent.

Instead of promoting alcoholic beer these days, Oktoberfest's hosts have figured out that it makes sense to create an inclusive event that will serve alcoholic beer, sure, but also non-alcoholic beverages, and many, many craft beer brands.

The nature of the event has changed so much that if someone spent 20 years not visiting, they may be surprised at what novelty options the event includes.

 

Oktoberfest Has Gone Vegan: Should You Dread the Change?

Not in the slightest! Of course, there have been some detractors who have repeatedly said that Oktoberfest is a shadow of its former glory, and to those people we say - big whoop! Nothing could be further from the truth. Oktoberfest in 2025 and hopefully beyond remains a fixture in the calendars of people who love drinking.

Has it gone vegetarian and vegan? Oh, yes - you bet. There are a lot more options such as these, but they have not supplanted the original strong beer taste, nor are they bad to begin with! Many craft beer brands are now available at Oktoberfest, and they offer you the same pleasant taste.

 

A Festival of Taste, Not Just Alcohol

Many drinks these days are about more than alcohol:

• People prefer the taste of alcohol

• Many love craft beers as they are far more original

• Vegan options are gaining traction indeed because of sustainability concerns

Even alcohol-free drinks are a delight, doing away with beer's worse qualities while accentuating its stronger palliative qualities. Why? Because Germany has been mastering beer craftsmanship since its inception.

 

Oktoberfest Welcomes Everyone

Yes, there are a lot more options that naturally cater to a far more diverse crowd, but ultimately, they are just that - options. Oktoberfest is also remarkably non-political. The festival doesn't care about who you are, as long as you keep decorum and are polite to others.

Want to take a swill from a tasty brew that is alcohol-rich? Sure, go ahead - just don't give a hard time to the people who are sipping on their vegan and non-alcoholic alternatives. These are all legitimate and tasty options to explore!

As Roulette77 likes to say, when it comes to roulette, variety in your choice of strategy is important, and guess what, the same rule applies to beer. The greater the variety, the tastier the brew.

 

Oktoberfest's Traditions Are Unassailable

Of course, Oktoberfest is also about tradition, even if the serving girls, one of the highlights of the festival, have been criticized as a bit too much. Still, waitresses who amble around carrying impossible amounts of beer mugs can be seen, dressed in traditional clothing (if they prefer), but some go for slightly less revealing options as well.

The truth is that Oktoberfest is about preserving tradition and even adding to it, as tradition is just that - something that people have come up with in the olden days, and as much as some people would not like to believe it, tradition is the assimilated customs over hundreds of years. Here are some interesting facts about the event's traditions:

Custom	What It Means
O'zapft is!	This is when the mayor of Munich taps the first keg.
Traditional Clothing	You have seen it all over the Internet - Germans do love to dress up for Oktoberfest!
Reserved to Munich Breweries	The event is limited to Munich breweries, the only ones allowed to serve beers.
No Beer Before the Official Keg Tapping	Do you want to drink beer at Oktoberfest? You need to wait for the official keg-tapping - do not think about slaking your thirst before that!

As you can see, some of these traditions go back a long way indeed, and it is just the way it is. Are they old-fashioned? Who knows, the fact is that people simply love them. Oktoberfest is about tradition, sure, but it's also about having as much fun as you possibly can, and there is really no shame in that!

 

What to Expect from Oktoberfest in the Years to Come?

The world is going alcohol-free - consumption is down, and younger people are particularly to blame - getting hammered is not really what it used to be, and the buzz alcohol provides is easily replicated by a host of other cool things you can do without the negative downside of being hungover.

Our youngest now look at their elders and quizzically wonder - why would these people brag about having a terrible time in the morning after a night of drinking? But Oktoberfest does not seem to be worried about trends in global alcohol consumption, because when it comes to tradition, the event is a milestone, a landmark that seems as immovable as laws of nature.