MUNICH >> At Weihenstephan, the world’s oldest brewery which was founded as a brewery in 1040 by Benedictine monks, nonalcoholic wheat beer and lager now make up 10% of the volume.

The increase over the last few years, since they started making alcohol-free drinks in the 1990s, mirrors the statistics for the rest of Germany’s beer industry.

Even at Oktoberfest — arguably the world’s most famous ode to alcohol — alcohol-free beer is on the menu.

All but two of the 18 large tents at the festival offer the drink through the celebration’s 16 days. The sober beverage will cost drinkers the same as an alcoholic beer — between 13.60 and 15.30 euros ($15.12 and $17.01) for a 1-liter mug (33 fluid ounces) — but save them from a hangover.

This year marked the first time an alcohol-free beer garden opened in Munich.

– The Associated Press