Commuters told 'don't wear deodorant' in bid to force passengers to wear coronavirus masks in Berlin

Berlin commuters are told ‘don’t wear deodorant’ in a bid to force fellow passengers to wear coronavirus facemasks on public transport 

  • Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe shared the humorous safety notice to Twitter
  • It urged passengers not to wear deodorant so that others wear masks correctly
  • Masks are mandatory on public transport and while shopping in Germany

Commuters have been urged not to use deodorant in an outlandish campaign designed to encourage the use of facemasks on public transport in Berlin.

With face coverings mandatory on public transport in Germany to prevent the spread of covid-19, one provider in the capital has taken the unusual approach of telling customers to unleash their natural body odour.

Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) created the humorous safety notice in the hope that customers will be so overpowered by the smell of others that they will reach for their masks to protect themselves.

BVG, who is responsible for the city’s U-Bahn underground railway, tram and bus services, shared the post along with a caption: ‘You leave us no other choice’. 

The campaign banning the use of deodorant read: ‘Because so many people think they can wear the mask under their noses, we are now getting tough. So, now do you still want to have your nose out?’    

Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) created the humorous safety notice in the hope that customers will be so overpowered by the smell of others' that they will reach for their masks

Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) created the humorous safety notice in the hope that customers will be so overpowered by the smell of others’ that they will reach for their masks

The post has gained over 6.7k likes on Twitter, however some users of the service were less impressed with the gesture.  

Wolfgang Bremer, a freelance designer, tweeted: ‘Well it would be even better if the inspectors and the regulatory office intervened for those without a mask and the under-nose mask wearers. Can’t you really do anything?’

To which Maria Winter, a historian, replied: ‘Often they don’t wear them themselves.’ 

A woman wears a face mask on public transport in Berlin, March 23 2020 (pictured)

A woman wears a face mask on public transport in Berlin, March 23 2020 (pictured)

Marc Bauer tweeted: ‘Of course, you could just enforce the mask requirement, as in any other city in Germany.’

Another user by the name of Jan, thanked the service for addressing the issue but encouraged them to do more checks: ‘Thank you! Every time I see so many idiots (approx. Half of the passengers) walking around with a clear nose and don’t know who to snap at first. More checks please !!’ 

The often cramped conditions of public transport are rife for the exchange of viruses, leading Germany to become the first European country to impose the mandatory face coverings on April 22 – it is also a requirement for people entering shops.

source: dailymail.co.uk