Prague bans night-time pub to attract “more cultured” visitors

Prague’s city council has decided to ban night-time pub crawls organized by travel agencies in an effort to attract “more cultured” visitors. The Czech capital, with a population of 1.3 million, has long been a popular spot for raucous stag parties and pub crawlers, particularly from the UK.

Prague’s deputy mayor, Zdenek Hrib, announced on Monday that guided pub tours will no longer be allowed between 10 pm and 6 am. Deputy mayor Jiri Pospisil added that the city aims to attract a “more cultured, wealthier tourist” instead of those who visit solely to indulge in heavy drinking.

For years, foreign beer enthusiasts have helped maintain the Czech Republic’s reputation as the world’s top beer consumer, with an average of 128 liters consumed per person in 2023, despite a downward trend since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. In some restaurants, beer remains cheaper than water, and many pubs in the UNESCO-listed historic center offer renowned local lager for under €3 per pint.

Vaclav Starek, head of the Czech Association of Hotels and Restaurants, supported the city’s decision, noting that the influx of beer-seeking visitors has been a problem for locals and other tourists alike. He emphasized that while people can still visit pubs, the organized night-time pub crawls were unnecessary.

Prague is not the first European city to take steps against certain types of tourism. Last year, Amsterdam launched a “stay away” campaign targeting young British men by displaying ads triggered by search terms like “stag party Amsterdam” or “cheap hotel Amsterdam.” The ads warn about the risks of excessive drinking and drug use, including fines, criminal records, hospitalizations, and long-term health issues.

This year, Amsterdam introduced an online quiz discouraging certain behaviors, such as exploring the city with a drink or joint or taking guided tours through the red-light district. Other cities, like Venice and Barcelona, have also implemented measures to control mass tourism, such as limiting tour group sizes and planning to ban short-term tourist rentals by 2028.