Ha! Many will relate to your German anecdote. In Germany my rule is Just don’t do it in front of children. Apparently many Germans feel obliged to lecture transgressors if kids see their bad example but might let it go otherwise. Funny!

But Germany really is an odd outlier in Europe. Something to do with Prussian militarism or something, there are lots of theories. The nextdoor Dutch are completely relaxed and let’s not even talks about the Italians.