Prague Bans Evening Bar Crawls to Discourage ‘Drunk’ Tourists
Prague, the Czech capital, has announced a ban on evening bar crawls organized by travel agencies. This decision aims to discourage tourists who come primarily to get drunk and instead attract more cultured and affluent visitors. The ban will be enforced between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. local time and only affects agency-organized group tours, not individual groups planning their own outings.
The city’s deputy mayor, Jiri Pospisil, stated that Prague wants to target “more cultured, wealthier tourists” rather than those who come for short periods to indulge in excessive drinking. This move follows complaints from residents in Prague’s historic district about noise caused by rowdy pub crawls. Vaclav Starek, head of the Czech Association of Hotels and Restaurants, praised the decision, noting that trips to the center in search of beer have been a problem for both local people and other tourists.
Prague’s decision aligns with broader trends across Europe, where several cities are taking measures to manage the impact of tourism on their communities. Other cities like Venice and Barcelona have also implemented restrictions to mitigate the negative effects of mass tourism.
