Kinkel’s reality checkout

Date: 17/10/1996

German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel had a nasty brush with reality the other day, sustaining minor injuries to his ego and denting his confidence in human nature.

The incident happened when Kinkel popped into a local supermarket to stock up on beer and water.

He must have been thirstier than he thought because when he arrived at the checkout, he found he only had 20 deutschmarks and a handful of Dutch guilders from a recent trip to Holland.

The German currency was insufficient and the cashier was not going to mess around with foreign stuff, so poor old Kinkel had to put some of his purchases back on the shelves while a queue of impatient shoppers built up behind him.

Embarrassing enough, but then Kinkel, clutching the few remaining bottles he could afford, was overheard muttering: “This would never happen if we had a single currency.”

Suddenly a voice in the queue piped up: “Yes, but we don't want it.” Kinkel slunk away, doubtless vowing not to mix with the general public ever again.