Deutsche Bahn (DB), the national German railway carrier, has announced that it will discontinue serving draft beer on its long-distance trains starting in 2025 due to declining demand. The company will instead expand its selection of bottled beers, reflecting changing customer preferences.
Draft beer has been a staple of Deutsche Bahn’s onboard service for years, but its popularity has waned. In 2010, draft beer accounted for 50% of all beer sales onboard; today, that figure has dropped to just 15%.
Bottled Beer Instead of Draft Beer
From next year, Bitburger Pils, which was previously served on tap, will only be available in 0.33-liter and new 0.5-liter bottles.
The expanded bottled beer selection will include familiar brands such as Erdinger Weißbier, Jever Fun (alcohol-free), Radeberger, and Starnberger Hell. In addition, Deutsche Bahn will introduce a rotating seasonal beer, starting with Birra Moretti(Heineken) in spring 2025. DB Category Manager Milena Terhoeven stated that the move aims to cater to a wider range of tastes, ensuring variety and quality for passengers.
Beer Sales on Deutsche Bahn
Currently, Deutsche Bahn sells approximately 25,000 hectoliters of beer annually, making beer a key component of its onboard catering service. While draft beer is being phased out, the company is confident that its expanded bottled offerings will satisfy passenger preferences.
Cashless Payment
Alongside changes to its beer offerings, Deutsche Bahn is testing cashless payments as the sole payment method on up to six ICE routes starting in February 2025. This pilot program will run until May and is designed to simplify transactions and reduce wait times. However, Deutsche Bahn has faced criticism for introducing cashless payments so late.
Customer Complaints
This delay highlights the company’s lack of modernization in recent years, which has been a frequent subject of customer complaints.
For years, passengers have voiced frustration over severe delays in the national rail network, with waits of an hour or more often not being an exception. Deutsche Bahn’s struggles with infrastructure and service punctuality have raised questions about its ability to meet modern expectations.
