Germany's archaic laws controlling the hours stores may be open have been upheld by the German Constitutional Court. While we applaud the general principle of judicial restraint, Germany's long—suffering shoppers are still stuck  with very limited temporal options. Stores must close by 8 PM on weekdays and Saturdays, and are allowed to open on Sundays and holidays for only three hours.

These limited hours are actually significant extensions of the previous limits. Until 1996, German shoppers had to get their buying done by 6:30 PM on weekdays, and Sunday shopping was verboten.

Of course, there are loopholes, and they are being exploited to the max. Gasoline stations can operate 24 hours a day, and are allowed to sell food 'in limited quantities.' Accordingly, virtual supermarkets are opening, disguised as gasoline stations. Similarly, stores inside airports and railway stations, serving tourists and other travelers, are exempt, and may often be patronized by people going to the hauptbanhof with no intention of riding a train. This can only help maintain the financial viability of Deutsche Bahn, which is otherwise hemorraghing Deutschmarks.

For those of us accustomed to the joys of the 24 hour supermarket, finding ourselves in need of dental floss at 3 AM, or a six pack at 11 PM, for instance, Germany's regulations would be stifling. They seem to be symptomatic of a nanny state, intent on telling its people how to live their lives. Given the extremely low levels of actual participation in religious life in Germany, the Sunday restrictions are particularly ironic.

It is time for the German people to use the political mechanisms available to them and get their Bundestag to pass new legislation allowing stores and customers to agree on shopping hours without state intervention.

Posted by Thomas   06 10 04