Where to buy alcohol in Germany and how much does it cost?

In Germany, alcohol can be purchased in grocery stores, gas stations and even newspaper stands, as well as cafes and restaurants. It can be consumed in restaurants, cafes and snack bars, and it's not uncommon to see people drinking in parks, on the streets and even on public transport.

The price of alcohol in relation to the general cost of living is among the lowest in Europe.

Price of alcohol will be significantly different if one is buying beer from the grocery store, or having it at a restaurant/ bar.

A can of beer at the store runs about 1 EUR (about 0.3 EUR for the cheapest one), while you will enjoy this beverage at a bar for the price of 3 EUR. Same is with wine – a bottle of wine at the market is usually sold at a price of 3 EUR, while, for the same amount of money you will most probably get a cheap glass of wine when eating out. Don’t forget you can get 0.25 EUR for a tin can and 0.08-0.15 EUR for a glass bottle as a Pfand if it’s recyclable! Cocktails at bars and clubs usually cost something between 6 and 10 EUR, depending on the place.

10 Curious Facts for Travelers

1. Beer and wine are available at any grocery store (der Lebensmittelgeschäft) - no special liquor license needed!
2. Spirits can only be purchased at designated liquor stores called Spirituosengeschäfte.
3. Legal drinking age for beer and wine is 16 but you must be 18 to buy spirits.
4. Happy hour drink specials and on-premise liquour discounts are illegal - prices are fixed.
5. A half-liter draft beer at a bar or restaurant starts around €3. A bottled beer is €2-3.
6. Table wine by the glass is typically €3-5. Quality German wines average €10-15 per bottle.
7. Cocktails and mixed drinks range €6-12 each depending on the venue.
8. A bottle of decent whiskey or vodka starts around €15 at a liquor store.
9. Nightclubs often charge €5-15 covers and have minimum drink orders around €10-20.
10. Drinking in public places like parks and streets is permitted in most areas.