Germany mandates free drinks above 30 °C and slashes office equipment bureaucracy

Under the German Technical Rule for Workplaces (ASR A3.5), employers must provide suitable drinks to employees when indoor temperatures exceed 30 °C, with a voluntary provision threshold at 26 °C. The rule, treated as a binding standard by authorities, applies to office, outdoor, and vehicle‑based work and can be enforced by the trade authority.

The federal government’s recent “Entlastungskabinett” (relief cabinet) announced measures expected to save about €600 million a year by cutting bureaucratic burdens. Revisions include abolishing mandatory inspection stickers on devices such as coffee machines, introducing digital‑first communications with job centres, removing the need for green environmental plates on electric vehicles, and easing periodic safety checks on electrical equipment. These steps aim to simplify procedures for citizens and businesses across Germany.