World

Germany raises a glass to beer-purity law's 500th anniversary

German chancellor Angela Merkel attends the 500th-anniversary ceremony in Ingolstadt. Picture by Michaela Rehle/Pool/AP)
German chancellor Angela Merkel attends the 500th-anniversary ceremony in Ingolstadt. Picture by Michaela Rehle/Pool/AP) German chancellor Angela Merkel attends the 500th-anniversary ceremony in Ingolstadt. Picture by Michaela Rehle/Pool/AP)

CHANCELLOR Angela Merkel has helped Germany's brewing industry celebrate 500 years of its famous beer-purity laws.

Only water, hops and malt are permitted ingredients, according to the Bavarian 1516 legislation that slowly spread to the rest of Germany. It is still on the statute books today, albeit with some exceptions.

Ms Merkel raised a glass of frothy brew - albeit alcohol-free - to the law at a ceremony in Ingolstadt, quoting German theologian Martin Luther's saying that "he who has no beer has nothing to drink".

Critics say the so-called Reinheitsgebot - whose name suggests divine commandment - is little more than a marketing trick dreamed up in the early 20th century to keep foreign beers out of Germany.