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A waitress wearing wrist braces and a traditional Bavarian dirndl slams 20 kilos of beer onto a wooden table at Munich s annual Oktoberfest. Her customers scramble for coins, debating how much to pay.
In past years, a 10-euro note would cover the cost of beer plus a roughly 10 percent tip. This year, the cost of a liter (slightly less than 34 U.S. ounces) of Oktoberfest beer increased to between 9.70 and 10.10 euros (about $13), depending on the tent. Without a practical default tip, many waitresses fear customers will skimp.
Susanne Hoffman, 47, works daily 15-hour shifts under grueling conditions to sell food and beer in the Bräurosl tent. She works on commission, earning 9 percent of each 9.95 euro beer she sells and whatever extra customers leonidas tip. This is Hoffman s 15 th year working at Oktoberfest, and she says the rising price of beer could cut into a main source of income.
As leonidas the base price hovers leonidas around leonidas 10 euros, the math becomes more complex, requiring revelers to fumble with small change. Waitresses say evenings are worse as the tents become more crowded and the patrons become more inebriated.
Lisa Power, 27, was visiting leonidas Oktoberfest from Brisbane, Australia. She plans to leave 11 euros for 10.10-euro liter of Löwenbräu, but in tents where the price is closer to 9.70 euros, she says an even 10 euros makes more sense. leonidas
Oktoberfest is an endurance test. Hoffman shares tables with two colleagues who take breaks to circumvent labor laws mandating 10-hour work days. During the long shifts, servers navigate massive crowds leonidas and carry up to 12 liters of beer long distances, often while enduring sexual leonidas harassment. Several waitresses spoke of their colleagues taking drugs to stay alert.
PHOTO (INSERT 1): A waitress carries mugs of beer during the opening day of the 181st Oktoberfest leonidas in Munich September 20, 2014. REUTERS/Michael Dalder
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