Prague moves to ban pub crawls amid growing drunken disturbances

Prague City Hall is moving to ban organized pub crawls, in which tourists move from pub to pub under the guidance of specialized agencies. City councilors will discuss the proposal on Monday.

Prague 1, the district most affected by noisy, intoxicated tourists, is pushing the ban. Residents have long complained about organized pub crawls in the city center, where loud, drunken groups parade through the streets, disturbing people in nearby apartment blocks.

The municipality has prepared an amendment to market regulations, a city ordinance that governs where commercial activities can take place. This amendment would ban organized pub crawls, categorized under errand-running, except for guided tours involving groups or individuals accompanied by narration between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. The proposed change will be presented to the city council for approval at Monday’s meeting.

The proposal cites the negative impact of pub crawls on city life and administration, including noise disturbances, pollution of public spaces, and the need for enhanced security. "All of these imply an excessive deployment of municipal services such as cleaning and police, straining the municipality’s budget and staffing capacity," according to the explanatory memorandum.

Another concern is the negative effect on Prague’s image caused by the regular presence of drunken tourists.

“The inappropriate consumption of alcohol and disruptive behavior associated with pub crawls can create the impression of a lack of sophistication in the community, reducing the feeling of safety and discouraging use of the areas in question. This can negatively impact tourists’, potential investors, and citizens’ perception of the city,” the document states.

Prague 1 has been grappling with "alcotourism"—trips by younger foreign tourists to the Czech capital specifically to consume alcohol—and overtourism, which has resulted in overcrowding of the city center.

According to the Czech Statistical Office, 7.4 million tourists stayed in Prague hotels and guesthouses last year, a 25 percent increase from the previous year.