Deutsche Bahn (DB) has announced plans to ban alcohol at all 5,400 train stations across Germany. All forms of alcohol outside of designated dining areas are scheduled to be completely prohibited starting on October 15, 2026.
Deutsche Bahn CEO Evelyn Palla made the announcement, citing an attack on a DB service last Friday as a catalyst in her decision-making. “We’re serious about safety. It’s about protecting our employees and passengers.”
Thirty train stations are already alcohol-free in cities including Cologne, Munich and Hamburg. “The experience there is clear,” says Palla. “Alcohol-free means less violence and less litter.” Starting on September 1, Berlin Hauptbahnhof and Berlin Gesundbrunnen, as well as stations in Kiel and Braunschweig, will become alcohol-free zones. All other train stations in Germany will follow successively by mid-October.
