Split City Council Bans Nighttime Alcohol Sales Until Mid‑September

On 30 July 2026 the Split City Council approved a temporary prohibition on the sale of alcoholic beverages in shops and other retail outlets between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. The restriction applies to supermarkets, kiosks, petrol stations, markets and vending machines across the city and will remain in force until 15 September.

The measure does not affect cafés, restaurants or night‑clubs. Officials said the ban is intended to curb noise, anti‑social behaviour, littering and other disturbances that affect public order during the peak tourist season, and to protect the historic centre, including Diocletian’s Palace.

Violations will be monitored by the State Inspectorate and fines range from €5,000 to €39,810 for legal entities, €2,000 to €6,630 for responsible persons, and similar penalties for sole traders. While most councillors supported the vote, several, such as Bojan Ivošević, criticised it as a “poor copy” of earlier initiatives and called for zoning and regulation of night‑clubs instead.