General Information

Many freely accessible water sources in Germany, especially springs and wells, are not of drinking water quality. At wells and captured springs, this is indicated by a sign “Not Drinking Water.” In urban areas, particularly with industry, and in regions with intensive agriculture within the water catchment area, many sources and groundwater can be contaminated with pollutants.

Drinking Water – Tap Water

Drinking water is drawn from groundwater or brought through long pipelines from lakes or large springs and used as tap water, which meets drinking water quality. If contamination occurs, which is very rare, the city or municipality will inform about it.

Bottled Drinking Water

Drinking water can be purchased in all grocery and beverage stores, gas stations, etc., in the following types:

Classic/Spritzig – Carbonated,
Medium – Less carbonation,
Still – Non-carbonated.

Mineral Water

A water can only be called mineral water if it is of special quality. To meet the standard, it must be of consistent quality, original purity, sourced from deep groundwater, and officially certified.

Fruit – Fruit Juices

Orchards shape important parts of Germany’s agricultural areas. In these meadows, mainly standard apple, pear, plum, and cherry trees are planted. Part of the harvest serves as table fruit. A significant portion is processed into fruit juices, which serve as refreshments – pure or with water. Note: If a fruit drink is labeled as nectar, it often contains only a small amount of juice, which can be supplemented by artificial additives and high sugar content.

Alcohol

General: In Germany, beers and wines predominate among alcoholic beverages, varying greatly in quality and price. The differences are particularly significant with wines. A basic rule is: the more precise the wine’s origin, the higher the quality. If only a region is indicated, the wine is often blended from different harvests, places, and vineyards. There are also alcopops, mixed drinks that are partially industrially manufactured or freshly mixed on-site, as well as cocktails, some with and some without alcohol, such as vodka, cognac, gin, or rum.

Alcohol and Driving: When driving a vehicle, impairment is assumed at a blood alcohol concentration of 0.3 per mille, and a civil offense occurs at 0.5 per mille, which can result in a significant fine. Additionally, a driver’s license can be suspended for a period. The threshold for absolute driving incapacity is handled differently in the federal states, with most having a limit of 1.1 per mille.