Pub crawls now banned citywide
The ban on promoting, organising or running pub crawls to public establishments has been extended to cover the entire city, at all hours of the day. The move aims to ensure peaceful coexistence, safeguard residents’ right to rest and protect public health. The new decree, which also prohibits advertising related activities in any form, will undergo a public consultation period until 4 September.
Partial view of the Barcelona coast at night, from north to south. Author: Vicente Zambrano
Pub crawling is a business that takes customers on organised drinking tours to a series of establishments that offer discounted alcoholic drinks.
It typically involves quickly consuming one or more low-quality drinks before heading to the next stop. This activity has been identified as a risk factor that causes disturbances in neighbourhoods, puts extra strain on public spaces and potentially leads to criminal behaviour or road safety violations.
Until now, pub crawls were only banned in the districts of Ciutat Vella (since 2012) and L’Eixample (since 1 June 2025), with the restrictions mainly focused on nighttime hours, from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
The new decree introduces a permanent ban that applies 24 hours a day, year-round, rather than being only seasonal. The new text has been initially approved and will undergo a public consultation period from 7 August to 4 September before coming into force for four years.
Further information
Aerial view of the Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, near the junction with Passeig de Gràcia, in the evening, with cars circulating beneath the Christmas lights. Author: Paula Jaume
