A Bavarian tax inspector has demonstrated he can hold his drink better than most, by breaking the world record for the number of beer tankards carried over 40 metres (130ft). Oliver Strümpfel carried 29 litre vessels, weighing almost 70kg (154lbs) at a Bavarian beer festival on Sunday. He would have managed 31, had one glass not fallen at the last minute, and another not lost more than 10% of its contents, contravening the rules of Maßkrugtragen – or beer tankard carrying.

The 45-year-old was cheered on by 1,500 spectators shouting “Oli, oli”, at the Gillamoos Fair in Abensberg, which evolved from a 14th-century pilgrimage and is one of Bavaria’s oldest beer fairs. A competition judge from Germany’s record institute and a notary were present to witness Strümpfel’s feat. The most difficult part of the operation was to avoiding excessive spillage before placing the beers on a table at the end of the 40-metre stretch. Strümpfel has been working on his barman skills for almost 10 years, initially taking up the sport in order to oust an Australian who held the record as the Meister of Maßkrugtragen. He managed to beat him in 2010, when he carried 21 tankards. By 2014 he had upped the number to 25.(theguardian)…[+]