Shock in Augsburg: Famous bar closed due to drug-related crime!

Shock in Augsburg: Famous bar closed due to drug-related crime!

In Augsburg's Oberhausen, the heart of the city at Helmut-Haller-Platz doesn't quite beat in time. A ray of hope like Habo's Bierschänke, which opened at the end of February and started with the aim of revitalizing the area around Oberhauser Bahnhof, is currently facing major challenges. As the Augsburger Allgemeine reported that the restaurant has now been “temporarily closed”. However, Chris Ress, a member of the management team, emphasizes that this does not mean the final end. For the time being, the situation is highly unsatisfactory, as the problems with the addict scene on the nearby Helmut-Haller-Platz are severely affecting the operational situation.

Over the years, the Oberhauser train station has developed into a meeting place for drug addicts and alcoholics, which has a significant impact on citizens' sense of security. Many people are now avoiding the space, which is putting additional pressure on the catering industry. A bitter setback for the Habo’s project, in which the operators, restaurateur Stefan Bob Meitinger and partner Bernhard Happacher, invested a “proper six-figure amount”.

Hope for improvement

The city of Augsburg is aware of the issue and, according to Ress, is planning to move the scene to Donauwörther Straße, with a new meeting point in the St. Johannes parish center, which is scheduled to open from 2026. This measure aims to improve the situation at Helmut-Haller-Platz. The city will also undertake the renovation of the square in order to optimize the local conditions and create a more pleasant environment.

We are also working on strategies to combat the drug problem. Loud Federal Ministry of Health Drugs and addictive substances are a serious issue in Germany with significant health, social and economic consequences. In Germany, 11.6 million people smoke, 1.6 million are addicted to alcohol, and around 1.3 million people have problematic use of illegal drugs.

Improve resources for addicts

A central aspect of addiction policy is to have a positive influence on those affected through prevention work and improving counseling services. Harm reduction programs, such as syringe exchanges, could also help stabilize the situation outside Habo's Bierschänke, Ress notes. Litter and improper disposal of syringes in the area are additional challenges that need to be addressed.

Despite the difficult situation, the operators of Habo's Bierschänke are optimistic about the future. They are working hard to find a solution for the premises and hope to reopen before Christmas. In the meantime, the Rotes Pony private brewery remains active in the premises and does not let the hopes of the residents completely fade.

A clear call to everyone who is interested in solving this complex issue: Changes are necessary to regain the feeling of security and quality of life in Augsburg's Oberhausen. Time is of the essence and it is up to all of us to take action.