Croatian Minister of Tourism and Sports Tonči Glavina presented amendments to the Croatian Tourism Act to parliament yesterday, including a ban on the sale of energy drinks to minors, the Croatian newspaper "Jutarni list" reported, quoted by BTA.
The amendments to the law provide for a ban on the sale and serving, as well as the consumption of energy drinks by persons under the age of 18 in tourist facilities, following the model that already exists for alcoholic beverages. Enforcement includes inspections as well as police checks.
The aim of this amendment is to protect children's health due to the high caffeine content in energy drinks, and similar measures have already been introduced in other European Union countries.
The amendments to the law also cover other aspects of the tourism sector. Landlords will now have to obtain a mandatory registration number for short-term rentals, and villa owners and unregistered landlords will no longer be checked only by state inspectors, but also by municipal officials and the customs administration. Legal entities will no longer be allowed to rent out apartments and rooms in residential buildings.
Glavina announced stricter measures against unregistered short-term rentals, more serious market control and full digitalization of tourism procedures.