Croatian cafes face smoking crackdown

Zagreb’s Ban Jelacic Square (Photo credit: M. Vrdoljak/Zagreb TZ)

In Croatia, a wave of inspections has begun targeting hospitality venues to enforce the country’s indoor smoking ban, tportal reports.

The focus is clear: are cafes, bars, and restaurants sticking to the rules that forbid smoking in enclosed public spaces?

Judging by the number of fines handed out, it seems both venue owners and smokers are struggling to comply.

Since the start of 2025, sanitary inspectors have been cracking down hard. Out of every two cafes visited, one has been slapped with a penalty.

In total, the State Inspectorate has carried out 389 checks this year, finding 181 venues in violation. Zagreb alone saw 50 out of 96 inspected businesses fined.

The penalties are steep—up to €20,000 for companies and between €600 and €2,000 for individuals. Faced with these hefty costs, waiters and owners have started warning guests: smoking inside is no longer an option.

Tin, a waiter at a student-friendly cafe in Zagreb, told RTL about the impact.

“If the weather gets nicer, we’ll open the terrace, and smoking will be allowed there. But guests complain a lot. Most of our crowd are students who come in groups of five or six. When they see there’s no smoking, they often just leave. Business has definitely dropped.”

His cafe follows the law—it’s non-smoking indoors, with a terrace where smoking is permitted, but only when it’s open. A closed terrace counts as an indoor space, and the ban applies.

The law itself is strict. According to the Act on Restricting the Use of Tobacco and Related Products, smoking tobacco, herbal products, e-cigarettes (with or without nicotine), and even water pipes is banned in all enclosed public spaces.

But could an even tougher ban be on the horizon?

The Hospitality Industry Association fears a total smoking blackout in enclosed areas might be coming.

“We’ve asked the Ministry of Health for a meeting to find out if they’re planning any changes to the law soon. Businesses don’t want to invest in ventilation or upgrades only to face new rules,” said Jelena Tabak, president of the association at the Croatian Chamber of Economy. They’re still waiting for a reply.

For many cafe owners, a complete ban spells disaster. Ivan Milinković, who runs a smokers’ cafe, said, “We’ve been through a smoking ban before, and it nearly finished us. Most places couldn’t afford it.” Memories of past struggles linger, and the current crackdown is stirring up old worries.

Outdoor smoking

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health says it’s exploring “various measures” to cut smoking rates and protect public health. The numbers back up their concern—Croatia’s smoking habit is growing.

A 2023 study found that 37.9% of adults and 38.1% of younger adults light up regularly. “Smoking fuels diseases that ruin quality of life and lead to early death,” warned Smilja Golomejić from the Croatian Institute of Public Health.

For now, cafe terraces offer smokers a lifeline—but only when the weather cooperates. With inspections showing no sign of slowing down, and fines piling up, Croatia’s hospitality scene is feeling the heat.

Will tougher laws stub out smoking for good, or just snuff out struggling businesses? Time will tell.