Oktoberfest: World’s Biggest Beer Fest Begins

Oktoberfest festival is held annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. And this year the mayor of Munich Christian Ude has tapped the first keg to kick off the 178th traditional German folk festival.

A waitress carries the traditional 1-litre beer mugs at the opening of the Munich Oktoberfest September 17, 2011. (Reuters)

Munich Mayor Christian Ude taps the first barrel of beer during the opening ceremony for the 178th Oktoberfest in Munich September 17, 2011. (Reuters)

Munich Mayor Christian Ude hands over the first beer to Bavaria’s Prime Minister Horst Seehofer (R) during the opening ceremony for the 178th Oktoberfest in Munich September 17, 2011. (Reuters)

A brass band in traditional Bavarian clothes takes part in the Parade of the Landlords and Breweries during the opening of the 178th Oktoberfest in Munich September 17, 2011. (Reuters)

Revellers salute with traditional 1-litre beer mugs at the opening of the Munich Oktoberfest September 17, 2011. (Reuters)

Revellers toast with the traditional 1-litre beer mugs at the opening of the Munich Oktoberfest, September 17, 2011. (Reuters)

Green Party members Theresa Schopper, Claudia Roth and Margarthe Bause (L-R) toast during the opening ceremony for the 178th Oktoberfest in Munich September 17, 2011.

Revellers scuffle for the first free beer in the traditional 1-litre beer mug at the opening of the World’s biggest beer fest, the Munich Oktoberfest, at the Theresienwiese in Munich, September 17, 2011. (Reuters)

A waitress carries the traditional 1-litre beer mugs at the opening of the world’s biggest beer festival, the Munich Oktoberfest, at the Theresienwiese in Munich, September 17, 2011. (Reuters)

As it turns out, drinking in Germany isn’t all busty babes and fun. The beer drenched country has seen a huge spike in alcoholism, to the point where one in five Germans have a drinking problem.