Recession forces German brothel to introduce new 'flat-rate' promotions

Catch the bus or ride one of these eco-friendly bad boys, and you'll get a discount from your usual fee

In case you didn't know, prostitution is legal in Germany. It is still shocking however, to read that brothels in that country are boldly offering "flat-rate sex" similar to the kinds of deals on offer at an all-you-can-eat restaurant.

Along with the flat-rates, which start from $98, it was reported that the brothels are also offering "Rebates for pensioners and people on benefits, 10 per cent discounts for men who arrive by bicycle or public transport, and free shoe-polishing for customers who stay overnight."

With the innovative 'green' discount set to benefit the environment, is it fair to say that prostitution has developed a new way to preserve the environment?

The controversy is proof that even the world's oldest profession has been hit by the economic downturn, forcing it to strategize new imaginative ways of attracting customers. Unfortunately for those who make their living by it, many of Germany's conservative politicians have been aghast at the development, calling for the police to clamp down on the practice.

Such requests will most likely do little damage, because as I said earlier, prostitution is legal in Germany, as it has been for some time now, making you wonder what all the fuss is about.

With the police unable to actually forbid the occupation, they're unable to prohibit the flat-rate sex, and the Telegraph reports that "officers have focused their raids on immigration and hygiene offences at brothels where it has been introduced."

According to the Times:

"Prostitution is legal in Germany and, acccording to the Verdi service sector union, approximately 400,000 officially registered — and taxpaying — sex workers account for up to €14 billion of turnover annually.

That is about twice the figure recorded by registered self-employed electricians, yet electricians are among the many beneficiaries of state support."

In a very strange way, prostitution has proven over time, to be of financial benefit to the society. I have a feeling that the rest of the world will see this precedent and follow it, sooner than we think. One thing is for sure, prostitution is showing why it has survived for as long as it did, and it is showing the world a new way to sell a product, and in a strange and very ironic way, it's creative strategies are worth emulating.