Increasing the well-being of citizens and enhancing quality of life is a priority for political leaders acting in the public interest. But pervasive alcohol availability in public places leads to many problems, including rowdiness, littering, noise pollution, violence, and exposure of children and youth to alcohol. It can also threaten inclusivity and safety for all. This is why the Mayor of Prague is planning to increase the number of alcohol-free places.
Currently, Prague maintains around 800 places in the city as alcohol-free. On May 17, 2022, the city revealed a decree to increase the number of these alcohol-free spaces to just over 1000.
The City Council will hold another meeting before approving the updated rules to increase alcohol-free spaces through a ban on alcohol use in public places. If approved the new rules will take effect from July 01, 2022.
The updated rules would also prohibit people from walking around the city with an open alcohol bottle or can. Furthermore, the municipality will introduce certain times when alcohol-free laws are in action. For example, the decree will ensure Prague’s embankments are alcohol-free from midnight to 9:00 AM by prohibiting people from consuming alcohol in the embankments during this time.
Improving the quality of life of local residents in Prague
The updated decree intends to protect the well-being of local citizens in Prague and to enhance quality of life. One of the main reasons for updating these rules is the return of tourists.
Prague’s embankments are a place that has long served as a cultural and leisure zone of the capital. At the same time, however, it is necessary to maintain peace for the local inhabitants of the Prague 5 and Prague 2 districts,” said Jan Chabr, Property Councillor, as per The Mayor.eu.
The companies on the embankment also close at 22:00, so ordinary visitors to the embankment should not be significantly restricted by the new decree. Social life will be preserved until midnight, and then, at night, we would like there to be more peace for the locals.”
Jan Chabr, Property Councillor
Prague’s Deputy Mayor for Security Petr Hlubuček adds that more visitors means having more noise and pollution, which, in turn, disturbs local residents’ quality of life. As such, the main goal of the new decree is to protect Prague’s citizens and keep the city clean and liveable.
Movendi International reported in 2019 how much alcohol-fuelled tourism was disrupting local residents’ lquality of life in Prague. Several tour companies were specifically promoting cheap beer in Prague through organizing tours for pub crawls. This was significantly lowering the quality of life of citizens and increasing the risk of pushing long-term residents out of the city.
The new alcohol-free spaces will improve the situation for everyone and enhance quality of life.
