Croatia Plans Local Night-Time Alcohol Sales Limits

The news in Croatian

1. predložiti
   iznijeti prijedlog, reći što bi bilo dobro učiniti ↩︎
2. turistički
   koji se odnosi na turizam ili turiste ↩︎
3. mjesto  (n.)
   određeni dio prostora; lokacija, naselje ili manji grad ↩︎
4. obrtnik  (m.)
   osoba koja ima obrt i sama obavlja neku djelatnost kao posao ↩︎
5. poslovati
   obavljati poslovne aktivnosti, raditi u okviru nekog poduzeća ili obrta ↩︎
6. privremen
   na određeno, ograničeno vrijeme, ne stalno ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: Who will decide about alcohol sales between 20:00 and 6:00 under the new proposal?

Question 2: Besides alcohol sales, what change is planned to help craftsmen (obrtnici)?

Vocabulary

Croatian	English
predložiti	to propose
turistički	tourist / relating to tourism
mjesto  (n.)	place
obrtnik  (m.)	tradesperson / craftsman
poslovati	to do business
privremen	temporarily

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The Croatian government is preparing legal changes that would allow local authorities to limit alcohol sales between 20:00 and 06:00, according to recent statements by the Minister of the Economy, Ante Šušnjar.

Under the proposal, amendments to the country’s Trade Act would give cities and municipalities the power to decide whether shops in their area may sell alcoholic drinks after 8 p.m. and before 6 a.m. This would not be a nationwide blanket ban. Instead, each local government could introduce stricter rules, keep the current practice, or set specific limits depending on local needs.

Minister Šušnjar said the main reasons for the measure are the health of citizens, especially children and young people, and the protection of public order, the environment and cultural heritage. By moving the decision to the local level, he argued, communities that are most affected by late-night drinking or noise problems would be able to react more quickly and adjust opening hours.

Supporters of the plan within the government present it as a tool for better management of tourist destinations. Many Croatian coastal towns and cities receive large numbers of visitors during the summer season, and local councils often face complaints about night-time disturbance, litter, and damage near shops that sell alcohol late at night. The new rules are intended to let those councils balance tourism income with the quality of life of residents.

At the same time, the proposal raises questions for retailers and consumers. Limiting alcohol sales in shops after 20:00 could affect small neighbourhood stores and larger chains that rely on evening trade, especially in tourist areas. Some citizens may welcome quieter nights and fewer disturbances, while others may see the measure as a restriction on personal freedom or daily habits, such as buying drinks late in the evening.

The government has not yet presented detailed economic analyses in the statements reported so far, and differences in opinion are expected once the draft law reaches public debate and parliament. Critics, including some business representatives, are likely to focus on the possible impact on shop turnover and employment, while supporters may emphasise long-term savings in healthcare and policing if alcohol-related problems are reduced.

Alongside the alcohol proposal, Šušnjar announced planned changes to the Croatian Crafts Act (Zakon o obrtu) aimed at easing the burden on craftspeople and small business owners (obrtnici). These amendments include reducing financial and administrative obligations, such as certain maritime contributions, and simplifying procedures.

One important innovation would be the introduction of a temporary manager (privremeni poslovođa). If a craft business owner dies, this manager could run the business for a limited period without immediately meeting all professional qualification requirements. The goal is to give families or successors time to gain the necessary qualifications and formally take over the craft, so that the business does not have to close suddenly.

Another key change is that craftspeople would be allowed to continue working after retirement without closing their registered business, which is often required under the current rules. Šušnjar compared this to the situation of owners of limited companies, who are already allowed to work part-time while receiving a pension. The reform aims to align these conditions and make it easier for experienced craftsmen to stay active and keep their businesses open.

The minister also commented on the state’s approach to troubled companies, using the example of the rail vehicle manufacturer Gredelj, whose production is being shut down by its current Slovak owner. Šušnjar said he would meet representatives of the factory and that the government intends to help by looking for new investors or partners, if the present owner supports such a solution. This is presented as part of a broader policy of assisting entrepreneurs facing serious difficulties.

The package of legal changes – covering alcohol sales, small business regulation and support for struggling firms – is expected to come before the Croatian government in the near future. After that, it would need parliamentary approval. For observers outside Croatia, the discussion offers an example of how a European Union member state is trying to combine public health, tourism management and economic flexibility for small businesses through local-level decision-making and targeted legal reforms.

Info: “Croatian Learner News” is a service from “Let’s Learn Croatian”, a language school dedicated to teaching Croatian through various online courses, where each Croatian language course is designed to help learners develop their skills step by step.