At the beginning of October, some new regulations that affect people in Germany will come into force again. In addition to the fuel discount, there are innovations in the digitalization of certificates of good conduct and living wills. The changes in October at a glance:
The fuel discount comes into effect
From October 1st, fuel prices, which have recently risen to record levels, are expected to fall again. The so-called fuel discount comes into force and the energy tax on fuels will be reduced by the end of the year. Including VAT, there are around 17 cents less tax per liter. The cost of relief for the state is estimated at 2.5 billion euros, half of which will be borne by the federal states. The federal government has also decided on a fuel price cap. But this should come later, the target is January 1st.
There had already been a fuel discount in May and June due to the sharp rise in fuel prices following the outbreak of the Iran War. This led to lower fuel prices. According to the Federal Cartel Office, however, the companies did not pass on the tax relief in full to consumers.
This is also why the fuel discount is controversial. The head of the Federal Association of Consumer Organizations (VZBV), Ramona Pop, also criticized the measure as not being targeted enough. The Social Association of Germany (SoVD) criticized the fact that those who did not need relief were also being relieved. Economist Veronika Grimm called it “cynical” to subsidize the driving of cars with combustion engines at the expense of the younger generation. However, there was support from the farmers' association.
Alcohol ban will be extended to all train stations
Beer will soon no longer be allowed on the platform because Deutsche Bahn bans alcohol in train stations. In September, the ban came into force at Berlin Central Station, at Gesundbrunnen Station in Berlin, in Kiel and in Braunschweig. Other train stations such as Cologne, Munich and Hamburg have already been alcohol-free for a long time. The ban will now be extended to all train stations nationwide until October 15th.
“We have found too often that where there is too much alcohol, violence also increases,” said railway boss Evelyn Palla when the ban was announced in the summer. Deutsche Bahn has house rules for its train stations and writes the ban into the respective house rules. According to the company, evictions should be issued in the event of violations. Repeat offenders should be banned from the house. Restaurants in train stations are exempt from the ban and are allowed to continue serving alcohol. Alcohol can still be consumed on long-distance trains. In regional transport there will continue to be regionally different regulations in the future.
The clocks are changed
Summer time ends at the end of the month. On the night of October 24th to 25th at 3 a.m. the clocks will be set back one hour to 2 a.m. The effect: It gets light earlier in the morning and dark earlier in the afternoon.
The time change has been controversial for years. Opponents criticize that the twice-yearly change unnecessarily disrupts the biorhythm, which leads to health problems. Studies also cast doubt on the intended energy savings through the switch. In summer, less electricity is actually used for lighting, but in winter more is heated in the morning.
The EU Parliament voted to end the time change in 2019, with the aim of abolishing it two years later. EU member states are allowed to decide for themselves whether they want to keep summer or winter time permanently, but at the same time fragmentation should be prevented. That is why the EU Commission wants to achieve a consensus among the member states, which has not yet been achieved. According to its own information, it has commissioned a “study to support decision-making,” which is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
Patient directives can be stored electronically
People can store information about advance directives or emergency contacts in the Federal Chamber of Notaries' Central Precautionary Register. In an emergency, treating doctors or care courts can access it. From October 1st, full-text electronic copies of powers of attorney, care directives and living wills can be stored in the register. Private individuals cannot do this themselves, but must commission notaries or lawyers to do it.
Until now, the documents themselves could not be viewed, only information about their content. According to the Federal Chamber of Notaries, the new regulation is intended to make work easier for those who can access the documents in an emergency. In addition, it should be possible to reliably understand the precautionary decisions made by those affected, which strengthens their self-determination.
Hedges and trees can be cut again
The closed season for nesting birds, which begins annually on March 1st, ends on October 1st. This means that it is once again permitted to cut down large parts of trees, hedges or bushes in your own garden or to remove them completely. According to the Federal Nature Conservation Act, only “gentle shaping and care cuts” are permitted during the closed season.
Certificates of good conduct are being digitized
Anyone who needs a certificate of good conduct for their job or for their work in a sports club can get one digitally from October 1st. Information about previous convictions is recorded in police clearance certificates. It has been possible to apply digitally for years, but until now the certificate of good conduct was sent in paper form by post. From October onwards, the certificate of good conduct will be delivered in PDF format via the so-called BundID account. It will contain a QR code that can be used to verify the authenticity of the document. However, you can still apply for the classic paper version of the certificate of good conduct.
