As of: March 8, 2024, 2:59 p.m
By: Carmen Mörwald
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The apple juice paragraph is over 20 years old and is one of the most important regulations in the catering industry.
Yet very few people know him.
Kassel - Due to the increase in VAT from seven to 19 percent in the catering industry, fewer and fewer people want to afford a visit to a restaurant.
If you decide not to eat at home, you look at the menu meticulously.
It is noticeable that alcoholic drinks are offered at a higher price than non-alcoholic drinks.
The so-called apple juice paragraph is to blame - an important rule in restaurants.
Drink prices on the menu: Apple juice paragraph is intended to protect against alcohol abuse
The apple juice paragraph is part of the German Restaurant Act (GastG) and has existed in this form since the end of 2001.
The Federal Ministry of Justice summarizes the regulation as follows:
If the serving of alcoholic drinks is permitted, non-alcoholic drinks must also be provided for consumption on site upon request.
Of these, at least one non-alcoholic drink is no more expensive to administer than the cheapest alcoholic drink.
The price comparison is also based on the extrapolated price for one liter of the drinks in question.
The licensing authority can allow exceptions for serving drinks from vending machines.
§ 6 Serving non-alcoholic drinks in the Restaurant Act
This is a preventive measure against alcohol abuse.
The apple juice paragraph is intended to prevent alcoholic drinks from being drunk simply because they are cheaper.
Young people in particular should be protected in this way.
In Germany, the public order office is primarily responsible for controls.
If violations occur, restaurateurs face fines or other criminal consequences.
Our neighboring countries have similar regulations: In Switzerland, the paragraph is part of the hospitality law.
This states that “a selection of non-alcoholic drinks” must not be more expensive than the “cheapest alcoholic drink”.
In Austria, after the rule was introduced, it was observed that restaurateurs had raised the prices for mineral water.
That's why two cheaper non-alcoholic drinks must now be offered.
Why apple juice paragraph?
Colloquial name has important meaning
It is important to note that not just any drinks are used as a basis for comparison.
This way, restaurant operators could easily circumvent the rule.
You are therefore obliged to offer an “attractive drink that is tailored to normal demand”.
Milk, warm tea or coffee are actually not included.
Apple juice, on the other hand, is a very common drink, which is where the colloquial name comes from.
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Very few guests know the apple juice paragraph.
This is an important regulation that is mandatory for all restaurants (symbolic image).
© Design Pics / Imago
Restaurateurs are also not allowed to offer unattractive quantities of a drink.
For example, if the Cola is only available in a liter bottle, it might be just as expensive as the cheapest alcoholic drink, but very few guests want to order such a large quantity of it at once.
The quantity and type of drink must always be in relation to the usual demand in a restaurant.
(cln)