The city of Prague is considering a ban on the popular pub crawls, in which tourists are guided from bar to bar by specialist agencies. These tours have caused growing discontent, especially in the city’s center, with local residents complaining about noisy, drunken groups disrupting the peace late at night.
Next Monday, city councillors will discuss a proposal to ban pub crawls. According to novinky.cz, the plan would prohibit the so-called “errand running,” which includes pub crawls, between 10 PM and 6 AM. Guided tours by traditional tourist guides would be exempt. This change would affect market regulations that determine where commercial activities may take place in the city.
The city council justifies the ban by citing the negative impact on urban life. Beyond the noise and public disturbances, tourist behavior leads to increased costs for municipal services such as city cleaning and law enforcement, placing a strain on Prague’s budget and resources.
Prague 1, the central district, is particularly affected by the rise of “alcotourism,” where young foreigners visit the city to consume large amounts of alcohol. The district also suffers from overtourism, as the city center becomes overcrowded with visitors. Last year, overnight stays in Prague hotels and guesthouses reached 7.4 million, a 25% increase compared to the previous year, according to the Czech Statistical Office.
With the proposed ban, the city council aims to improve the quality of life for residents by reducing noise pollution during the night.
