Makarska, Croatia, imposes night‑time ban on alcohol sales in shops

The city council of Makarska voted to prohibit the sale of alcoholic beverages in retail outlets—including shops, bakeries, kiosks and tobacco stores—from 21:00 to 06:00. The restriction does not affect the opening hours of these premises and excludes bars, restaurants and cafés, which may continue to serve alcohol.

Mayor Zoran Paunović said the aim is to “preserve peace, order and a pleasant atmosphere” for residents and visitors, citing frequent late‑night gatherings that bring noise, vandalism, litter and damage to the historic centre, especially during the summer tourist season. The measure is enforced by the state inspectorate. It is the first such restriction in Croatia, and other coastal cities such as Split and Zadar are contemplating similar steps.

Public reaction is mixed; a souvenir‑shop vendor described the ban as “a horror, a catastrophe,” while some locals welcome the effort to curb drunken disturbances. The legal basis stems from recent amendments to the Croatian Trade Law that allow municipalities to regulate alcohol sales in the public interest.