Faced with the influx of tourists who came to party while taking advantage of the low price of beer, this major European city took the radical decision to ban nighttime bar crawls. Objective: attract a calmer clientele.
Some major European cities, such as Barcelona and Krakow, are particularly popular with tourists for partying, whether thanks to the good weather, the beach, the gigantic number of bars and nightclubs, or the low cost of alcohol. And, if this brings strong economic dynamism, it is not necessarily to the taste of local residents, tired of this incessant flow of noisy foreigners without any manners.
The Czech Republic is world-renowned for its beer consumption, with an average of 128 liters per capita in 2023, according to the Czech Statistics Office. Its capital, Prague, is popular for its nighttime bar crawls, known as “pub crawls” – a sort of barathon. The reason: pints at unbeatable prices, sometimes cheaper than water. It’s no wonder, then, that the town is a popular destination for stag and hen parties.
However, this alcohol tourism is not without its inconveniences, since it causes noise pollution, disturbances of public order, waste scattered in the streets and security problems. These excesses pose problems for both locals and tourists looking for a quieter experience.
Also, Prague has been seeking for some time to break away from this image of a “party destination”, wishing to attract visitors interested in the richness of its historical and architectural heritage. The various municipal teams have put in place various regulations going in this direction, such as the ban on segways and beer bikes, but also on traffic in a large part of the Old Town between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. to limit noise.
On Monday, October 14, the city council this time voted to ban nighttime bar crawls organized by travel agencies, still from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Please note, it is always possible to go for a drink and enjoy the wealth of local bars to end your day in style. It is simply the giant drinking parties bringing together hordes of wild tourists, very popular with certain agencies, which are prohibited.
It remains to be seen whether this decision will bear fruit. It is true that cities with overly festive reputations can deter some wealthier tourists. But this does not mean that Prague is guaranteed to attract more tourists wishing to discover the cultural heritage of the capital. It takes the economic risk of depriving itself of part of its customers. This is therefore a risky bet, but potentially profitable in the long term, to reorient its image towards quality tourism.