Alcohol regulations in Croatia

Licences needed

Entry in the Register of Excise Duty Payers (Form PUR via e-Carina/e-Trošarine), Authorized Warehousekeeper permit (if operating under excise duty suspension), entry in the Register of Distillers (Upisnik destilatera), and Food Business Facility registration.

Authority

Ministry of Finance - Customs Administration (Carinska uprava), Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Ministarstvo poljoprivrede), and Ministry of Health (Ministarstvo zdravstva).

Documents

Court or craft register extract, proof of legal building/premises (location or building permit), Form PUR via the e-Carina G2B portal (requires FINA digital certificate), description of distillation equipment and storage capacities, and proof of clean tax/customs compliance record.

Fees

not confirmed

Time to obtain

Registration in the Register of Excise Duty Payers must be submitted at least 8 days before starting production; for production outside duty suspension, electronic verification of the PUR form acts as immediate authorization.

Who can import

Registered legal entities or natural persons/craftsmen established in Croatia/EU holding an EORI number and registered with the Customs Administration as an excise taxpayer (such as an Authorized Warehousekeeper or Registered Consignee for intra-EU movements under EMCS).

Licences or registrations

EORI registration, registration in the Register of Excise Duty Payers (Form PUR via e-Trošarine), and registration of the import/storage facility with the Sanitary Inspection of the State Inspectorate (DIRH).

Authority

Ministry of Finance - Customs Administration (Carinska uprava) and State Inspectorate (Državni inspektorat - DIRH).

Documents

Single Administrative Document (SAD) for non-EU imports (or e-AD via EMCS for intra-EU movements), commercial invoice, packing list, freight and insurance documents, customs value declaration, and certificates of origin/analysis where applicable.

Fees

not confirmed

Time to obtain

Excise taxpayer registration must be submitted at least 8 days prior to activity.

Required: no Process: No prior product or brand label approval (like US COLA) is required for standard distilled spirits before placing them on the market, provided labels comply with EU and Croatian food information and spirit…

There is no state import monopoly. Third-country imports require a licensed importer of record with an EORI number and submission of a Single Administrative Document (SAD). Intra-EU movements under duty suspension must use the…

Croatia applies the European Union Common Customs Tariff (TARIC). Most distilled spirits under HS 2208 (such as whisky, rum, vodka, gin, and liqueurs) carry a 0% Most Favored Nation (MFN) customs duty rate, while specific rates per % vol/hl apply to certain un-denatured ethyl alcohols (HS 2207/2208) and specific rum subheadings.

Standard excise duty on ethyl alcohol (spirits) is 796.34 EUR per hectolitre of pure alcohol measured at 20°C (equivalent to 7.9634 EUR per litre of pure alcohol). A 50% reduced rate of 398.17 EUR/hl of pure alcohol applies to…

Alcohol is sold by private shops, supermarkets, kiosks, and licensed hospitality venues (bars, restaurants, clubs); there is no state retail monopoly. Under the May 2026 amendments to the Trade Act (Zakon o trgovini, NN 59/2026),…

Allowed with strict conditions. Online sellers must be registered and authorized for distance sales of alcohol. Under the 2026 amendments to the Trade Act and Consumer Protection Act (effective September 2026), online retailers…

All mandatory label information must appear in the Croatian language and Latin script (adhesive sticker labels are permitted for imported goods before retail placement). Mandatory items follow Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 and…

Under the Food Act (Zakon o hrani) and Electronic Media Act (Zakon o elektroničkim medijima, NN 111/21), advertising and teleshopping of spirits and alcoholic beverages (other than beer, wine, and fruit wine under specific…

Croatia directly applies Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on the definition, description, presentation, and labelling of spirit drinks, alongside the national Act on Spirit Drinks (Zakon o jakim alkoholnim pićima). Minimum ABV standards…

There are no dry provinces, but municipal public order ordinances strictly ban and fine public street drinking in historic and tourist town centres (such as Split with a 300 EUR fine and Dubrovnik with a 130 EUR on-the-spot…

In May 2026, Parliament enacted amendments to the Trade Act (Narodne novine 59/2026) empowering cities and municipalities to ban or restrict retail shop and delivery sales of alcohol between 20:00 and 06:00 to curb public…

Croatia's booming tourism sector—welcoming over 21.8 million visitors annually—drives strong seasonal demand for premium imported spirits, craft gin, whisky, and cocktail ingredients in the hospitality (HoReCa) channel. Because…

1. Ministry of Finance, Customs Administration - Alcohol and Alcoholic Beverages Excise Duty Rates
2. Ministry of Finance, Customs Administration - Excise Duty Legislation
3. CroatiaWeek - Croatia passes law allowing local authorities to restrict alcohol sales hours (May 2026)
4. CroatiaWeek - Croatia introduces digital age checks via m-Građani for online alcohol sales (August 2026)
5. European Centre for Monitoring Alcohol Marketing (EUCAM) - Alcohol Marketing Regulations in Croatia
6. Taxually - Croatia VAT Rates and Compliance Guide (Updated October 2026)