Tuesday, November 15, 2022

15 Nov 2022: Four German News Stories

 1.  The coalition (SPD, Greens, FDP) have come to a decision on a CO2 tax affecting apartment situations.  If you own a building with a low rating, then you as the landlord will pay more on the CO2 tax to be created.

What'll likely happen?  Escalation of rents by landlords....to cover government 'gimmick'.  It may be hyped upon and grumbled about, but if you want to lessen income level on a property of any type by a tax.....typically, the owner raises the 'bar'.  It may take a year for this all to sink in.....with some new solution....to further this whole discussion.

2.  There's a discussion going on in the German grocery world....that pork products are going to lessen, while the pricing for what you do find will escalate (maybe 40-percent more).

Farmers?  They are cutting back on production and sending a signal that you might walk into a grocery by mid-2023.....to find some pork shelves empty.  

I'm not saying a crisis, but it's going to make German-produced pork into a limited quantity.  

3.  Lot of chatter started up in Qatar over the World Cup and beer.  It appears that the FIFA folks are fighting off a push by Qatar to limit or ban beer for the game period.  

I would suggest this....if there is a total ban on beer....then a lot of European fans will skip the in-person ticket situations and this turns into a pretty odd World Cup. You would think they'd have written this up in an agreement five years ago.

4.  Regionally, near me, in the Limburg area and A49's autobahn.....cops got called on some truck-driver who seemed to be drunk.  They arrive and after a bit of persuasion....got him tested.

Note, German police alcohol testers only go up to the 4.99 per mille level.  If you test at the 2 to 3.5 level.....you are typically falling asleep or blacking out.  At 4, you'd be normally in a coma.  

Well...in this case, the guy exceeded 4.99, which is fairly amazing that he's still alive. 

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