PRAGUE (AP) — The Czech capital has approved a ban on organized nighttime pub crawls, a popular pastime with tourists that generates big bucks at the bars but creates problems for residents and authorities pain.
Last year, a lively tour group rolled through a bar in Prague’s historic district, attracting more than 7 million visitors. But they make a lot of noise at night and litter the streets, and have one of the most disgusting consequences. Overtourism is being felt across Europe.
Prague has struggled with rowdy and drunken tourist crowds for years, finally deciding to impose a ban that will take effect in November.
City Council member Adam Zabranský, who drafted the proposal approved this week, said the measure would address noise, safety and reputation concerns but was not intended to stop people from drinking in the beer-loving spot. nation.
“We don’t want to support cheap drinking tourism, which unfortunately is still common in Prague,” Zablanski told The Associated Press.
The ban will be enforced by the city’s police force between 10pm and 6am, with pub crawl organizers who violate it facing fines of up to 100,000 crowns ($4,300).
“It would be great if the owners of these establishments would take responsibility for themselves,” Zablanski said. “The reality is that residents of busy areas face negative consequences, while bar owners who participate in pub crawls just to Profit doesn’t care about these issues.”
The move is part of the city’s long-term strategy to boost cultural tourism and entice people to stay longer and come back again.
“People who come to experience the culture behave differently than those who come to drink all weekend long,” Zablanski said.
An organization that organizes pub crawls has called the ban a “populist move”. On Thursday, dozens of participants clearly enjoyed their experience.
“(The pub crawl) was really good,” said Melissa Haine from Germany. “I think it’s fun and you get to meet new people.”
Another agency, Drunken Monkey, said in a statement to The Associated Press on Friday that the city “made a mistake and will make the situation worse” by enforcing the ban.
It considers organizers and pub crawl guides “people who help the city and police keep people quiet and enforce noise and other rules.”
“Without the guidance, noise problems will become more severe,” it said.
The agency said it had never been fined for noise since it began operating in 2011 and had received no complaints about noise on the streets it uses.
Prague’s latest move doesn’t mean tourists will face obstacles trying local beers in the country with the largest beer consumption per capita in the world.
František Reismüller, Director of the Czech Tourism Board, said: “The Czech Republic has extraordinary potential for beer tourism, thanks to its long brewing history, unique breweries and current experiential and sustainable tourism trends.”
“Our goal is to show that beer travel is not only about tasting great beer, but also about learning about Czech culture, tradition and history.”
Stanislav Hodina contributed to this report.
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