Oktoberfest Sold More Beer And Food

Revelers at this year’s Oktoberfest in the Bavarian capital were hungrier and thirstier than last year.

As the 16-day festival wound to a close Sunday, Mayor Christian Ude reported attendance was up 3 percent, to 6.9 million, while consumption of beer and food rose 6 percent over 1995.

Festival officials put beer consumption this year at 1.4 million gallons, adding that demand for non-alcoholic drinks was down noticeably, apparently because of the colder weather.

Officials said 85 oxen were roasted on a spit, compared with 79 last year. Roasted chickens and sausages also sold well.