PRAGUE — The city of Prague has enacted a ban on organized pub crawls during nighttime hours, a decision made in response to ongoing disturbances faced by local residents and authorities.
These social events, where groups of tourists hop from one bar to another in the historic area, have become a manifestation of the overtourism challenges impacting many cities throughout Europe.
With more than 7 million tourists visiting in the previous year, the city has decided to put this ban into effect beginning in November after struggling for years to manage the behavior of intoxicated visitors.
According to Adam Zabranský, a member of the city council who proposed the ban, the initiative aims to tackle issues such as excessive noise at night, littering, and general concerns regarding safety and the city’s reputation.
Zabranský emphasized that the intention is not to stop people from enjoying a drink in a nation known for its beer culture, but rather to curb the prevalence of “cheap alco-tourism” that has unfortunately become too common in Prague.
The enforcement of the ban will be the responsibility of local police from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., with organizers who breach the law facing hefty fines of up to 100,000 koruna (approximately $4,300).
This significant step follows a series of unsuccessful attempts to address the problem, including the appointment of a night mayor in 2019, whose role was to reduce the adverse effects of nightlife on residents.
Zabranský remarked on the need for bar owners to share accountability, stating, “Residents in busy areas are suffering from the negative impacts while bar owners making profits from these crawls seem indifferent to the challenges.”
This ban is part of a broader initiative aimed at fostering cultural tourism and encouraging visitors to explore beyond a quick weekend trip.
Zabranský noted that tourists who come for cultural experiences behave differently compared to those who are primarily focused on drinking throughout their stay.
In response, an agency responsible for organizing pub crawls has criticized the ban as “a populist move,” while some participants expressed enjoyment from their experiences.
“It was very nice,” commented Melissa Haine from Germany. “I think it’s really fun, and it allows you to meet new people.”
However, this decision does not mean that visitors will no longer have the opportunity to sample local beers in a nation renowned as the top consumer of beer per capita globally.
“The Czech Republic has incredible potential in beer tourism, owing to its rich brewing history, unique breweries, and a growing trend towards experiential and sustainable tourism,” stated František Reismüller, head of the national tourism authority.
He added, “Our ambition is to convey that traveling for beer can extend beyond merely tasting it; it’s also about immersing oneself in Czech culture, traditions, and history.”
