Speibecken

A Speibecken or Kotzbecken is a basin for people to vomit into. These sinks are installed in some bars, restaurants and student fraternities in German-speaking countries^[1][2] as well as in bars in Vietnam.^[3]

A Speibecken

A Speibecken next to a urinal at the VLB Berlin

The Speibecken is often a large ceramic bowl installed at waist height with handles for the user to hold onto and a shower head to flush the unit.^[1] They are encountered more often in men's facilities than in women's.

In Germany and Austria they have become associated with the heavy drinking traditions of student fraternities.^[2][4] They have also been provided at supervised injection sites for drug users.^[5]

Names

Speibecken comes from the German speien ("to spit" but also "to vomit") and Becken ("bowl, basin").^[6][7] The term also has the meaning of the traditional spittoon, used by tobacco chewers or in dentist's surgeries.^[8] In some parts of Austria and Germany they are known as Kotzbecken (from kotzen, "to puke").^[2][4] In Vietnam they are called bồn ói [nôn], meaning "puke sink".^[3]

Speibecken are nicknamed Papst ("pope") often said to be because people must bow their heads to use them. In some German-speaking regions vomiting is known as papsten ("poping"). The shower head fixed nearby to flush the Speibecken is also nicknamed "large white telephone".^[1]