Drinking age in Croatia (2026)

Last reviewed: 31 October 2026

In short: The hospitality law bans serving alcoholic drinks to, or letting consumption by, anyone under 18, and requires staff to refuse service where a guest looks under 18 and does not show proof of age. Retail sale to minors is also banned under the Trade Act. Local councils may ban alcohol service at certain times of day.

RuleWhat applies
Minimum age to buy beer and wineBuying and drinking alcohol18 years [1]
Minimum age to buy spiritsBuying and drinking alcohol18 years [1]
Drinking by younger people with an adultBuying and drinking alcoholServing alcoholic drinks, or letting anyone under 18 consume them, in a hospitality venue is banned. The same ban applies to private accommodation providers. [1]
Drinking in public placesBuying and drinking alcohol⚠ Not yet verified
Where and when alcohol is soldBuying and drinking alcoholVenues serving alcohol must display a notice of the under-18 ban and must not serve a guest they judge to be under 18 unless the guest voluntarily shows proof of age. The local representative body may ban alcohol service in hospitality venues during certain periods of the day. [1]

Notes

  • Hospitality law Article 13 sets 18 for all alcoholic drinks and drinks containing alcohol. The retail ban in Article 11 of the Trade Act speaks of minors; the 2026 bill's memorandum refers to buyers under 18. The Trade Act text itself was not read.
  • No national provision on drinking in public places was found in the sources read; local rules may exist.
  • A government bill to amend the Trade Act (sent to parliament on 14 May 2026) would add an age-check duty at self-checkouts and an age check through e-Građani for online alcohol sales. Its adoption status was not confirmed.

Sources

  1. Narodne novine: Zakon o ugostiteljskoj djelatnosti (NN 85/2015; original text) (consulted 31 October 2026) · all sources

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General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.