Stag Parties

Stag parties…..Another British “fine” export!!!!!!!

Ever since the budget airlines opened up eastern Europe for weekend breaks, places like Riga, Prague and Tallinn have benefited enormously from a boost in trade………But…… It’s a double-edged sword.

So why do these areas in particular attract stag parties? The answer is cheap beer.

Prague in the mid 90s boasted 25p pints and lots of bars to chose from and that trend has spread throughout that region and although beer is no longer under £1, it is still considerabley cheaper than Britain.

Latvia's capital Riga is the latest area to become a target of the stag culture.

It is interesting to note that when Ryanair first began marketing their new flights it was not as a romantic break or a family getaway, it was as a party trip for stags and hens, a getaway, and Riga et al have embraced that.

It is a booming industry in a climate where there a few alternatives to turn to.

Who else will fill empty hotel rooms in mid winter, for example?

But it is hard to hide a stag party in a sleepy square in Riga and that is the problem.

They are often in fancy dress and can be heard before they are seen.

They just do not look as nice as an elderly couple taking an evening stroll before dinner.

……But…..the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs has said enough is enough.

Why? Because the main national monument, the statue of freedom, is being regularly used by drunken Brits as a toilet.

"If we also had other tourists, then British visitors who piss about all the time would not be as noticeable. Lets not be politically correct. Unfortunately this is their speciality," said mayor Usakovs.

Unfortunately in these economic times can Riga and others afford to be choosy?