Yes – stag and hen groups are welcome in Riga. Unlike Prague, which banned organised night-time pub crawls, or Amsterdam, which banned beer bikes, Riga has no rule aimed at stag groups (November 2026). What is regulated is behaviour and the sale of alcohol. Here is what your group needs to know before the trip.
The key numbers
10–20
hours shops may sell alcohol, Monday to Saturday
10–18
hours shops may sell alcohol on Sunday
18
minimum age to buy and drink alcohol
€350
maximum fine for drinking in a public place
€2
tourist tax per person per night from 1 January 2027
The rules at a glance
Shops
Alcohol only in the daytime
Since 1 August 2025, shops and supermarkets may sell alcohol only from 10:00 to 20:00 Monday to Saturday and from 10:00 to 18:00 on Sunday. Online orders are delivered no sooner than six hours after ordering. Bars, restaurants and clubs serving drinks on site keep their own hours.
Street
No drinking in public places
Drinking alcohol in a public place outside licensed bars and terraces – or being drunk in a way that disturbs public order – can bring a warning or a fine of up to 70 fine units. One unit is €5, so up to €350.
ID
Bring your passport or ID card
You must be 18 to buy alcohol. In shops, anyone aged 18 to 25 is asked for ID at every purchase, and clubs check ID at the door.
Behaviour
Noise and hooliganism
Disturbing the peace, harassment and swearing in public count as petty hooliganism and can mean a fine or arrest. Urinating in public or climbing monuments is the quickest way to meet the police.
Also not allowed
🌿 No cannabis or CBD
It is illegal to bring marijuana, cannabis or CBD products into Latvia.
🚭 No smoking indoors
Smoking is not allowed inside bars, clubs and restaurants.
🎯 Sober for guns and engines
Book shooting, karting and quads before the first drink – staff can refuse anyone who is drunk.
🍺 Beer bike: drinks on board only
Drinks are part of the organised tour; once you step off, the street-drinking rule applies again.
🏨 Respect the hotel
Many hotels set quiet hours and charge for damage – check the house rules on arrival.
Tourist tax in Riga
Riga charges a tourist tax per person per night, usually paid at your accommodation. In 2026 it is €1.50; Riga City Council decided to raise it to €2 per night from 1 January 2027. For a two-night weekend that is €4 per person – small, but worth knowing when you work out the cost.
If something goes wrong
Call 112 in an emergency. The Riga Tourist Police can be reached on +371 6718 1818. Keep a photo of every passport in the group chat, and stay calm and polite with officers – arguing makes it worse. For more on safety in the city, read Is Riga safe for a stag do?.
FAQ
Are stag dos banned in Riga?
No. Stag and hen groups are allowed and welcome. The rules apply to everyone: no drinking in public places, no public disorder and alcohol in shops only in the daytime.
Can we buy beer in a supermarket at night?
No. Shops stop selling alcohol at 20:00 (18:00 on Sunday) and start again at 10:00. Buy what you need for the hotel during the day.
What is the legal drinking age in Latvia?
18. Carry your passport or ID card – shops ask everyone aged 18 to 25 and clubs check at the door.
How much is the fine for drinking in the street?
A warning or a fine of up to 70 fine units – up to €350 – for drinking in a public place or for disturbing public order while drunk.
Do we have to pay tourist tax?
Yes, per person per night, usually at the accommodation: €1.50 in 2026 and €2 from 1 January 2027.
