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Ever noticed what German supermarkets have next to the tills? Yes, the usual sweets and fags. But there's another impulse item that attracts my attention: impulse schnapps.

10 cl bottles of various cheapo spirits. Chantré Weinbrand is a popular one. And Kirschwasser. I usually go for Chantré because it sounds classier. It's that acute accent. ("Oh what a cute accent." That's what people used to say to me in New York. That and "Pardon, what did you say?" or "Could you repeat that, please?")

It's the same at German stations. The food shops and kiosks always have a good stock of impulse schnapps on hand. Handy for the thirsty traveller. I'm sure the finger-waggers of Anglo-Saxon (or Nordic) societies would have a fit.

I love Germany.


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