A year after Prague imposed strict limits on organized bar tours, city authorities report a noticeable drop in illegal pub crawls disturbing the historic center at night.
According to the Prague City Police, officers handled 22 cases connected to unauthorized pub crawls in the past twelve months — a fraction of what used to happen before the 2024 ban.
City officials introduced the restrictions to curb alcohol-fueled tourism that had become a serious nuisance for residents, especially in Prague 1, home to Old Town and Charles Bridge.
The idea of a “pub crawl” originally describes a casual evening where friends visit several bars in one night — a social tradition especially common in Ireland during the holiday season, where participants dress festively and sing carols as they go.
In Prague, however, commercial tour companies transformed the concept into a mass tourism business. For a fixed fee, groups of foreign tourists were led through multiple bars, often ending up heavily intoxicated and loud in the streets of the city center.
The ban on organized pub crawls took effect in autumn 2024. It was made possible through amendments to Prague’s market regulation rules, which govern how guiding services operate in public spaces.
Licensed guided cultural or sightseeing tours are still allowed — but only until 10 p.m. After that time, any organized group visiting multiple bars is considered an illegal activity.
Over the past year, police have focused on monitoring nightlife areas and dispersing groups violating the regulation. The city has also worked with Prague City Tourism to raise awareness among travel agencies and international media.
Officials say that media coverage abroad — especially in English-language outlets — has played a major role in reducing demand.
