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FOOD AND DRINK

Hugo, Almdudler and Radler: 5 drinks to try in Austria this summer

It is easier to face the summer heat with a proper cold drink in your hands. Austrians know that well and have created (or made popular) several delicious alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Here are five you should try.

summer drink wine
What is the perfect summer drink in Austria? (Photo by cottonbro/Pexels)

The debate of which is the perfect summer drink is undoubtedly a very controversial one.

While many people would argue that nothing can beat the Italian Aperol Spritz (which is also very popular in Austria), some would rather stay with a simple cold beer.

If you are team Spritz, then you should know that Austria has a love for things g’spritzt, with their own versions of sparkling drinks (with or without alcohol). However, for those who prefer a beer, the alpine country is home to several famous brands, including the Styrian Gösser, the Viennese Ottakringer, and Stiegl, from Salzburg.

READ ALSO: Five Austrian destinations you can reach by train to escape the heat

In any case, when living or visiting a new country, it’s always fun to try out the traditional dishes and, in this case, beverages.

Here are five drinks you should try during the Austrian summer.

Hugo drink summer drink austria

Hugo is a very popular (and sweet) summer drink in Austria (Photo by Greta Farnedi on Unsplash)

Hugo

Some say this is the Austrian answer to the Aperol Spritz, but its sweetness from the elderflower syrup makes it quite different from the bitter bright orange Aperol.

There is also a bit of controversy as to where this drink, which Austrians love to drink during a nice summer afternoon, originates.

Internationally, it seems to be widely accepted that this alcoholic aperitif comes from South Tyrol, a German-speaking region of Italy with deep Austrian roots. Ask any Austrian, though, and they will tell that just proves the drink is from Austria.

READ ALSO: Eight ways to talk about the heat like a true Austrian

Italian or Austrian, the sweet drink is made with prosecco, elderflower syrup, seltzer and mint leaves. Serve it with lots of ice in a large glass, and you have a perfect summer drink.

white wine drinks party

Mix your white wine with sparkling water and you get a refreshing gespritzt (Photo by Matthieu Joannon on Unsplash)

weiß gespritzt

This is extremely popular, relatively cheap even in fancy restaurants, and somewhat controversial, but take some white wine and add a little sparkling water (sometimes ice) and you get a weiß gespritzt, or a g’spritzter.

READ ALSO: The best Austrian wineries to visit this summer

Not everyone appreciates mixing your wine with water, but it makes for a refreshing and lighter drink. In Austrian restaurants, you might be asked whether you want a summer gespritzt, which means it has higher water content and, therefore, is lighter, or a “normal” one.

It is by no means an Austrian drink, and you may have to ask for a Weinschorle instead of a Gespritzter in Germany, but it is a popular drink in the German world.

gösser radler drink

Austrian brands sell some of the most popular Radlers in Europe (Photo by Jonathan Kemper on Unsplash)

Radler

A Radler is another drink that though not from Austria, is extremely popular here. Not only that but some of the most popular Radlers are sold by Austrian brands.

Traditionally, all you need to make a Radler is to mix beer and lemonade. However, the drink is also found bottled and sold by beer companies such as Gösser and Ottakringer. The mix has also expanded and you can discover Radlers with a citrus or berry mix.

READ ALSO: Austrian old folks toast success of ‘Grandma and Grandpa’ beer

It is a lighter and sweeter beer, perfect for enjoying the summer with a fresh drink that is not so alcoholic.

Mixing apple juice and sparkling water creates a perfect non-alcoholic summer drink. (Photo by MIGUEL RIOPA / AFP)

Apfelspritz

Following the Austrian love for adding sparkling water to drinks, a very common and non-alcoholic beverage is the Apfelspritz.

It is a mix of apple juice and (you guessed it) sparkling water. It is popular in Biergarten as a non-alcoholic alternative, with kids joining in on toasts with their apple and soda mix.

The drink is also very common in Germany (where it is known as Apfelschorle), Switzerland and Hungary.

READ ALSO: Cash and Schnapps: A guide to visiting pubs and cafes in Austria

almdualer gerhard schilling

Almdudler’s CEO Gerhard Schilling holds a bottle of the traditional Austrian drink (© Philipp Lipiarski)

Almdudler

Another option for a summer light and non-alcoholic drink is the Almdudler, which is technically the name of the Austrian brand that sells the famous carbonated soft drink.

The drink is a blend of 32 “natural alpine herbs, beet sugar and soda water”, according to the website. It has a very distinctive logo and can be found in almost all Austrian households – being one of the most popular beverages in the country.

Did we forget about your favourite summer drink? Then let us know in the comments below or send us an email at [email protected].

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For members

CRIME

REVEALED: Which crimes are on the rise in Austria?

New data shows that the number of crime reports has increased compared to 2022 - these are the most common crimes and what Austria plans to do regarding security.

REVEALED: Which crimes are on the rise in Austria?

According to data released by the Interior Ministry, the number of crime reports slightly increased in 2023 compared to the year before.

In 2023, 528,010 reports were filed, an increase of eight percent, or 39,061 reports, compared to 2022. In the same period, the number of solved reports rose by 8.2 percent. A total of 276,043 reports were cleared up—that is 20,867 more than in the previous year.

What are the most common crimes in Austria, then? According to the police, most crimes fall into “property crimes,” which include thefts and burglaries. They are followed by white-collar crime offences, violent crime, cybercrime, and organised crime. 

READ ALSO: Is Vienna a safe city to visit?

Most (55 percent) of the suspects registered are Austrian citizens.

However, according to the police report, the following most common nationalities of foreign suspects are: Romanian, then German, Serbian, Syrian, Hungarian, Turkish, Slovakian, Afghan, Bosnian-Herzegovinian and Croatian. 

Property, white-collar and cybercrime on the rise

The main reason for the increase in the 2023 reporting statistics has to do with the crimes on the rise, which are property crime, white-collar crime and cybercrime.

Around 12.5 percent of all crimes occur on the internet or are related to it – in addition to classic white-collar crimes such as fraud, there are also violent crimes such as dangerous threats or blackmail. 

In addition, there are new forms of crime in connection with ATM card theft and contactless payment methods, according to the police. There has also been an increase in “classic crimes” such as shoplifting.

According to a government press release, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner announced a five-point package of measures to combat rising crime in Austria. “Among other things, this focuses on foreign crime as well as consistent action against all forms of youth crime”, he said.

The first point consists of implementing a criminal investigation service reform with a focus on combating cybercrime and creating 38 criminal investigation units and more than 700 additional jobs, the government said.

READ ALSO: Which parts of Austria have the highest crime rates?

Secondly, consistent measures were continued against the “smuggling mafia,” in particular with the operation on Hungarian territory, the deployment of 130 police officers on Hungarian territory, and the establishment of a specialised “anti-smuggling” department in the Federal Criminal Police Office.

One of the priorities is the issue of “juvenile delinquency”, the Ministry said. The government plans to establish the youth crime task force, lower the age of criminal responsibility (a working group has been set up), and ban knives in public spaces (in preparation).

The government also wants to mandate local police directorates to set “priority measures” in the area of burglary”.

Finally, the last point is to mandate local police to “take priority measures” in the area of crime committed by foreigners “as certain nationalities stand out in the crime statistics, as well as a mandate to the immigration authorities to continue to carry out consistent deportations of foreign criminals”.

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