Croatia moves to tackle night-time disorder with local alcohol sales controls

Whilst proposed amendments to the country’s Trade Act won’t include a nationwide ban on alcohol sales, cities and municipalities will be given the authority to regulate retail alcohol sales during evening and night-time hours, in line with local needs.

Under the proposal, local authorities could restrict alcohol sales between 8pm and 6am, including in shops and online sales via delivery platforms, should they deem it necessary.

Speaking on HRT’s main evening news Dnevnik, Tomislav Šuta, Mayor of Split, said the city council had already launched an initiative to amend the legal framework. He emphasised that the intention is not prohibition but addressing disorder in the historic city centre.

“Split today is not the city I once recognised,” Šuta said, adding that authorities must listen to residents and ensure public order and peace. The city is also preparing a new communal order decision to enrich the old town’s offer while reducing inappropriate behaviour.

Iva Rinčić, Mayor of Rijeka, agreed that new regulation may be necessary but cautioned against outright bans. She noted that while Rijeka does not face the same scale of challenges as Split, alcohol consumption among young people is a broader social issue requiring attention and consensus at local level.

Reactions among other tourist centres are mixed. Officials in Šibenik and Novigrad say existing communal regulations already provide sufficient tools, while Tomislav Tomašević of Zagreb said the capital would wait for the final law before deciding.

Tourism Minister Tonči Glavina described the amendments as additional tools to help destinations manage tourism flows and encourage consumption within regulated hospitality venues.

Public opinion appears divided but leans supportive. A February HRejting survey conducted by Promocija plus for HRT, based on 1,000 respondents, found that more than 55 per cent support or mostly support banning retail alcohol sales after 8pm, while nearly 40 per cent oppose the idea.

Around 45 per cent believe the main goal is reducing youth binge drinking, while others cite improving order in tourist hotspots.

As Croatia prepares for another busy tourist season, the proposed amendments signal a shift towards giving local communities greater control over how they manage night-time economies, without imposing a one-size-fits-all national ban.