Arabella Schorghuber, an acknowledged vegetarian, is responsible for the Paulaner-sponsored Festzelt, one of the major tents serving attendees at the 2023 Munich Oktoberfest. Ms. Schorghuber decreed that only organic chicken would be served at the event under her management. This decision resulted in a 50 percent increase in cost to $22 per half-Cornish hen. A liter of beer costs $16, up approximately six percent from 2022. The decision relating to the cost of Paulaner-served chicken has evoked widespread criticism expressed as “woke wiesn”.
It is anticipated that the 2023 Oktoberfest, the first since the onset of COVID, will attract over seven million attendees over an 18-day festival that commenced on September 16th. Collectively, 500,000 chickens were served at the 2019 Oktoberfest that includes 15 large tents sponsored by individual breweries with a collective seating of 100,000.