Backpackers PubCrawl Blog to European Drinking Laws

"Can we drink on the street?" a favourite question amongst backpackers that join on the pub crawl. It's not just in one city either we hear this, but everywhere. So as a pub crawl guide and experience European backpacker I decided it was about time to help out my fellow bewildered backpackers and make a Backpacker PubCrawl Blog to European drinking laws.

Berlin

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Drinking on the street? Drinking anywhere or anytime in Berlin is okay. Technically it is illegal to do so on public transport but I wouldn't worry about it too much. Socially it's acceptable to drink at any time of the day, you could literally be sipping on a cold one at 8am on a Tuesday in a Mickey Mouse costume and no one will give a single fuck.

Cheapest beer? You can pick up a 0.5ltr Sternberg at a convenient store for around €1.50. However, I'd stretch the extra euro for a Berliner Pilsner or Radeberger Pilsner as they're genuinely delicious and they don't give you a hangover. 

Extra info - A very Berliner drink is mixing a caffeinated tea called Club Mate with vodka. In Berlin where the party is 24/7, it's worth looking into. Also, you can actually make some of your money back with the beer bottles, for every beer bottle you return you get 8cent. Ok not much but between you and your buddies you'll generate enough revenue to buy some more beers, and so the cycle begins...

 

Prague

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Drinking on the street? So in the past few years Prague has tightened the rules on public drinking due to the sudden influx of drunken stag parties and backpackers. Basically, you can drink in public, but not on transport, near schools or transportations depot. So don't drink near the train station while you're waiting to catch that train to Budapest. I don't be obnoxiously loud because the Czech police will throw you into the drunk tank.

Cheapest beer? Ah Prague, where beer is cheaper than water. Honestly, you can pick up a pint of delicious Czech pilsner for 25CZK, about €0.90. Let's all move to Prague eh?

 

Budapest

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Drinking on the street? So it's prohibited to drink on the streets of Budapest, apparently. Going by the fact that everyone is drinking on the streets I wouldn't say that law isn't too heavily enforced. The police don't seem to give two Shirleys if you're strolling down the road neckin' a fifth of vodka. Honestly, you'll be grand.

Cheapest beer? Arany Àzsok is the Devil's piss water. Pay an extra 80ft and get a Soproni or Dreher. Beer in a convenience store is around 270HUF - 350HUF, so between €0.90 - €1.30 a can. Not bad at all lads.

Extra info -  If you come to Hungary you can't leave without the nation's favourite drink, Pàlinka.  Although it is technically a fruit brandy, it can be compared to volunteering yourself to do a shot of pure gasoline. With its alcohol percentage being an average of 60% you can see why. Give Unicum (tehe I know) a go too. It's kind've like Jagermeister tasting like liquorice, but it's just awful. Do it once, yolo and all that.

 

Dublin

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Drinking on the street? It's illegal to drink on the streets of Dublin. However, it's not that enforced. Just keep an eye out for the Coppers and you'll be fine. The won't fine you or throw you in a jail cell, just ask you to put whatever your drinking in the bin.

Cheapest beer? Galahad is the cheapest can of beer you can buy in Aldi. It's about 90c and god awful. But drinking in Dublin is expensive compared to continental Europe so stick to 4 cans for €5 deals. You can pick up a true Dubliner's larger called Dutch Gold, a favourite among students or pick up some Karpackie, imported beer but not so fancy. Either way, don't expect a climax for your tastebuds, but it's cheap and effective so thumbs up!

Extra info - I should probably mention Guinness: so I'm not gonna lie, Guinness is actually my drink of choice. And when it's poured right, damn it's delicious. But there's a huge range of great Irish craft beers out there like Cute Hoor, Oyster Stout and Five Lamps worth giving a go.

 

London

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Drinking on the street? So technically it's legal to drink in public but not on public transport. However, one must conduct themselves appropriately when getting inebriated in public. Basically don't be doing shots of vodka in front of Big Ben, half-naked with "I fucking love the Queen" written in neon on your back.

Cheapest beer? London Pride. You'll find the average pint of this to be around the £3.50 mark. It's a fairly okish ale, it's taste ok and it'll serve its purpose in getting you drunk. If it's something a little more tasteful you're after then you should hit up a Brew Dog pub in the Camden Neighbourhood, it's a bit more pricey but really great beer.

Extra info - London is really expensive so I recommend doing some serious pre-drinking before hitting up the clubs.

 

Barcelona

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Drinking on the street? Al Fresco drinking isn't permitted, however you'll be alright drinking on the street as long as your not acting like a total asshole vomiting all over yourself and starting needless fights with random pedestrians,

Cheapest beer? You can pick a 33ml can of Aurum in an Eroski supermarket for less than 30cent. However, from what I've heard it's essentially tasteless and serves only to get you batshit wasted. Backpacking on a budget? Sounds right up your alley, doesn't it. If you want to treat yourself to the finer things in life then stick to other Spanish beer brands such as Estrella and San Miguel, they won't give you such an unmerciless hangover either.

Extra info - Try Sangria! Trust me after the seventh time I had tried a bowl of homemade, lukewarm and cheap Sangria I had sworn it off for life. But in Barcelona, the Sangria is good. 

So go forth and enjoy yourselves!

By Catherine Munnelly