Night-time pub crawls will soon be banned from one of Spain’s most popular districts, following a mayoral decree. The strict rules follow risks posed ‘by irresponsible alcohol consumption’
Drunkenly stumbling from pub to pub in the early hours of the morning will no longer be prohibited in one of Spain’s most popular districts. A whopping 11.7 million tourists visited Barcelona city in 2024, a five per cent jump from the year before.
Brits in particular love the cosmopolitan capital of Spain’s Catalonia region, renowned for its unusual architecture, unique street performers, vibrant art scene and decent pints. The central district of Eixample is always bustling: packed with stylish bars, independent eateries, and the famous Plaça de Catalunya plaza.
In the daytime, you’ll be able to enjoy an espresso in the shade, shop to your heart’s content at Mercat Els Encants flea market, and soak up the history (or at least take a snap for the IG) at the Gaudi-designed Sagrada Familía church. However, at night, the area can become a little rowdy – no thanks to the stag and hen dos determined to make the night last forever.
Now, Barcelona is slated to introduce a ban on pub crawls in the district to clamp down on unsociable behaviour. Coming into effect from June 1*, the rule is predicted to last for at least two years before it is reviewed again. Advertising pub crawls will also go against the rules and will be met with fines of up to €900 for promoters and organisers.
The mayoral decree, which ‘completely restricts’ organised routes for the purpose of alcohol consumption between public establishments in the district, will be in place from 7pm – 7am. It has been described as a ‘special provision’, justified by ‘the exceptional situation of high tourist influx’ that can have ‘a negative impact on the image of the city and the quality of life in the neighbourhoods’.
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“Among the reasons justifying the measure are the incompatibility of these routes with citizen coexistence, especially with regard to the free movement of people, and the rest of residents,” said Barcelona Council in a statement. “Also the risk factor posed by irresponsible alcohol consumption when it affects specific public spaces specific to the district, specifically those considered stressed areas, such as green areas or in areas with a high saturation of leisure venues such as the area around Enric Granados, and which translates into inconvenience and requests from citizens.”
Last year, Barcelona City Council announced it was maintaining its ban on pub crawls in the city’s old town, the Ciutat Vella district. The rules have been in place since 2012 and will continue to be enforced until at least 2028. Local media states since the clampdown, the city council has issued more than 1,000 fines to leisure establishments for breaching the decree.
*There is a 20-day public consultation period for any objections.
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