The Voice of Entrepreneurs association and an association of owners of night clubs and bars have called for lifting restrictions on the work of such establishments, which is now limited to midnight, noting that many operate illegally despite the restrictions on working hours.

The two associations warn that the national Covid-19 response team “has been insisting, without real and science-based arguments, on the decision to restrict the work of night clubs and bars until midnight” while some coffee shops and restaurants are turning into night clubs despite epidemiological restrictions and operate illegally.

“We have been witnessing media reports about illegal parties in Zagreb while many indoor clubs and bars remain closed. The ban on the work of night clubs and bars is the reason why thousands of young people travel to neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia as there are no such restrictions there, prices and VAT are lower, and there is no tax on consumption. There are no restrictions on the work of night clubs and their visitors do not have to show Covid-19 certificates or get tested,” the two associations say.

They call on the national Covid-19 response team to lift the current restrictions on night clubs as they encourage illegal work while young people are still not getting vaccinated at a desired rate.