Barcelona imposes a citywide prohibition on pub crawls
Barcelona has taken a significant step in its ongoing efforts to combat overtourism and its associated problems by extending its pub crawl ban citywide, making it applicable 24 hours a day, all year round [1][2][3][4][5].
Initially implemented in the Ciutat Vella and Eixample neighborhoods in 2012, the ban was previously limited to nighttime hours (7:00 PM to 7:00 AM). With this expansion, the promotion, organization, and running of pub crawls are now prohibited anywhere in Barcelona at any time.
The ban's objectives are clear: to improve the quality of life for Barcelona residents, enhance coexistence with holidaymakers, and promote overall public health [1][2][4]. The measures target excessive drunkenness and rowdy behavior associated with pub crawls, particularly among tourists and Erasmus students. The city aims to reshape Barcelona's image away from party-focused tourism.
Violators, including organizers and establishments that promote or run pub crawls, face hefty fines. Penalties can reach up to 900 euros [1][2][3][4]. The decree specifically criminalizes promotion, organization, sale, or implementation of these routes throughout the city.
The new citywide, 24-hour ban has been approved in principle and will be valid for four years once the City Council definitively adopts the decree after a public consultation period [2][4].
Local residents have long been requesting officials to address issues like noise complaints, drunkenness in the streets, and littering. This move is expected to bring relief to them as the ban is well-obeyed in the past according to local officials.
The ban is also intended to address the health risks associated with fast alcohol consumption in a limited period of time [6]. Many Barcelona bars offer a free shot of liquor upon entry, which is not diluted with any soft drink or juice, contributing to the problem.
The pub crawl ban has been a controversial topic among Erasmus students, but it is part of Barcelona's broader strategy to manage tourism and maintain a livable city for its residents.
[1] El Pais: https://elpais.com/barcelona/2022-06-01/el-ayuntamiento-de-barcelona-prohíbe-los-pub-crawls-a-todo-el-año-y-a-todo-el-territorio.html [2] The Local: https://www.thelocal.es/20220601/barcelona-bans-pub-crawls-citywide-in-bid-to-reduce-rowdy-tourism [3] The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/01/barcelona-bans-pub-crawls-citywide-in-bid-to-reduce-rowdy-tourism [4] CNN: https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/barcelona-pub-crawl-ban/index.html [5] Time Out: https://www.timeout.com/barcelona/news/barcelona-bans-pub-crawls-citywide-in-bid-to-reduce-rowdy-tourism [6] The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/europe/spain/barcelona/articles/barcelona-bans-pub-crawls-citywide-in-bid-to-reduce-rowdy-tourism/
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Science and health-and-wellness are intertwined as the city of Barcelona, in its policy-and-legislation push to reduce overtourism issues, has placed a citywide ban on pub crawls, aiming to promote overall public health by curbing excessive drunkenness and related problems. This move is a considerable action in the politics of Barcelona, signaling a shift towards general-news-worthy measures that prioritize the wellbeing of local residents.
