Seedy underbelly of Croatia hotspot where rowdy tourists wee in street as ‘Pitbull police’ clamp down with booze ban

A DRUNK tourist held up by two friends is seconds away from being hit with a huge fine for vomiting in the street. City council workers who issue the penalties — dubbed tourist police by locals — zero in on the three lads and get their machines out, ready to issue the penalty just after midnight. A group sit in the street in Split to carry on drinking after pub closing time Credit: News Group Newspapers Limited Tourist Madeline sips from a bucket of booze Credit: Darren Fletcher But just before the wasted Brit throws up, a fourth pal appears with a plastic bag that is opened and primed to catch it. Thwarted, the “fun police” return to scouring the crowd for the next opportunity to slap a tourist with a draconian fine. Welcome to Split in Croatia, where party tourists are having to get creative to avoid the city’s €300 (£256) fines for vomiting, urinating or drinking in the street. The city’s crackdown on drunks is now in its third year. The gigantic fines were introduced in 2023. Then, the following year, the mayor forced the Old Town’s bars to shut at midnight instead of 2am in a bid to quieten things down. And now, officials have voted in a temporary ban on the sale of alcohol in shops between 9pm and 6am. It will remain in force until September 15. Announcing the restriction plan at the start of summer, Mayor Tomislav Suta told Croatian press the move would “curb drunkenness and disorderly behaviour”. But business owners have branded it “virtue signalling”. One, who did not want to be named amid fears of upsetting City Hall, said: “It’s pointless and posturing as most shops close by 9pm. “Most tourists aren’t drinking from cans on the street anyway.” Every night, the tourist police — two officials dressed in white — prowl the city streets to catch out anyone breaking the rules. They are flanked by six security guards in uniform emblazoned with the word “Pitbull”, who will catch anyone who tries to swerve a fine. The Sun watched as, just after midnight, two men walking along the street drinking beer were stopped and fined for boozing. Another tourist who was hit with a fine for urinating in a side street said: “It’s ridiculous that they’re issuing fines for weeing in the street when the public toilets are closed. “I can’t go into a bar after midnight, and the clubs take for ever to get into.” Tourist police issue on-the-spot fines to two men drinking in the street Credit: News Group Newspapers Limited The city’s ‘Pitbull security’ team seek out antisocial behaviour Credit: News Group Newspapers Limited When The Sun last visited Split three years ago, gigantic signs peppered pedestrian-only Marmontova street, laying out oppressive rules. The notices warned visitors they were “in the city of a Roman emperor, so act like it”. Now they are gone, replaced by smaller signs at the entrance to the Old Town, making Split look less like a city with a drunken tourist issue. But given that a €3.80 (£3.25) beer is the same price as a lemonade in most bars, it is no surprise visitors are choosing the harder stuff. The crackdown has left some bars struggling, however, as they have been forced to close during their busiest time of night — midnight to 2am. Leo Males, owner of Mandrill’s pub and Leopold’s Craft Beer Bar, told The Sun: “The streets are louder now than ever before because the drunk tourists are just being let loose on to them at midnight. If a guest in my bar is behaving like an idiot, I’ll tell them and they always calm down. “But once they’re on the street, they won’t listen. “There’s a respect for workers, but they won’t listen to random locals. A drunk tourist passes out in a city park in Split Credit: News Group Newspapers Limited A pair of tourists drink from a bottle on a daytime booze cruise Credit: News Group Newspapers Limited “The city wants people to be more respectful, but when they’re stuck on the street at midnight there is nowhere for them to go to the loo other than the streets. “Public toilets shut at 11pm or 12am, and they can’t go into a bar any more. It’s just not very sensible, but we’ll survive. The service industry is very resilient and before long, someone else will be in power with different ideas.” Leo has had bars in the city for 15 years, and his craft beers keep punters coming back for more — as do his drinking challenges. Customers can take on the Tequila Dum Dum challenge, where they put on a World War One helmet and get smacked three times with a shot of tequila and tonic water, before downing it for just €5 (£4.27). Londoner Phoebe, 22, second from left, and pals enjoy a boat trip Credit: News Group Newspapers Limited A sign in Split displaying local laws for tourists Credit: News Group Newspapers Limited Thankfully, the city’s fines are not putting most tourists off coming and having fun. Phoebe, 22, from South London, is on a girls’ holiday in Split with three pals and they have had no issues. She said: “We were out until 5am last night. We were in Charlie’s Bar until 4am and then just on the street. We’ve had so much fun. There’s so many different people here.” Last year 825,000 Brits holidayed in Croatia, with Split being the country’s second most popular destination. It is a two-and-a-half hour flight from the UK and return tickets cost around £250 during the summer months. Around 3,000 people live in the city’s Old Town — and it was complaints from some of these locals about “rowdy” tourists that sparked the crackdown. For Juraj Perisic, who owns Georgy Shooters Bar, having to close early has cost him around 20 per cent of his profits. “The city has made a mistake,” he said. “They wanted to make it quieter but instead, it’s louder. People make a mess because they’re stuck outside on the streets. “I’m lucky that my bar is a secondary income. “But for people who rely on the tourism sector, it’s been hard on them the past few years. “They want elite tourism but there are no five-star hotels in the centre, no Michelin-star restaurants, or designer outlets. “The city doesn’t really cater to five-star guests. “The only thing Split can be is a party place or it can go back to being a transit town, like it was for decades — a place where people would just board a ferry. “Young people bring money, but they need to be managed. They can’t be managed if they’re sent on to the streets at midnight.” Juraj’s bar is renowned for offering wild-named shots such as Deep Throat, Morning Wood and Nipple Twister. And girls can still flash the bartenders — who are both female — to get a free drink. Seasoned boozers who can down ten shots in ten seconds also win a round for free. Bartender Nicole Wray, 24, from West Sussex, is in Split for her second season, and loves it. She said: “I couldn’t ask for a better place to work. People have fun and are polite. “I understand the bans are for the older generation, but it is having a massive economic impact on the Old Town and pushing people away from the city.” However, one business that is busier than ever is Out To Sea Split, which sails party-loving punters 300m away from the Old Town so they can drink to their hearts’ content. Day trips cost €50 (£42.73) or €20 (£17.09) at night. Sam Houghton, founder of Out To Sea Split, said: “I think they see it as us taking the problem away from the city with tourists looking for a night out. “People are taken out on the boat, and after the night boat, we put them straight on to a bus to a club. “We are definitely seeing a younger crowd, but it’s been our biggest year yet.” Boiler Club, a nightclub which charges €30 (£25.63) to get in, is in favour of the city’s restrictions to reduce antisocial behaviour. A spokesman said: “We believe that the discussion about Split’s future should be grounded in proven European practices, that have delivered results in destinations that have faced the same challenges for many years. “At the same time, we believe any new measure should be assessed in terms of its effectiveness, proportionality and application, while ensuring a balance between the interests of local residents, the sustainable development of tourism and the interests of responsible hospitality businesses.” Whatever side you support, it is safe to say the party in Split is still very much in full swing. The mayor and city council were contacted for comment.