July the 27th, 2026 – Should Croatia be charging tourists who take it too far and require emergency medical help after excessive drinking or even illicit drug use?
Every single summer, Split in particular faces the same old problem, and that is tourists being found unconscious on city streets after heavy nights of drinking, with emergency services called to help them. The issue has sparked a debate over whether people who put themselves in danger through excessive alcohol consumption should contribute to the cost of medical interventions.
over 50 calls because of alcohol in june alone
During June alone, the Split-Dalmatia County Emergency Medical Service recorded more than 50 calls related to alcohol intoxication. Lukrecija Zderic reveals for Index that medical teams treated 44 people, while eight people were no longer at the location when emergency crews arrived. Among those who received help were also two minors.
Many of these cases involve young foreign tourists visiting Split during the summer season. Locals say it has become common to find intoxicated visitors lying on streets in the early morning hours after nights out and organised pub crawl tours.
The question now being raised is whether tourists who end up needing emergency medical assistance because of extreme alcohol consumption should help cover the cost. Some European countries already charge part of the expense in similar situations, but Croatia currently does not have such a system.
an abuse of already thin resources
Croatia’s emergency services are required to help anyone whose health is at risk, regardless of how the situation happened. However, every intervention requires medical staff, vehicles and resources.
The Croatian Health Insurance Fund explained that emergency medical teams are funded through contracted healthcare costs. A single emergency team consisting of a doctor, nurse and driver represents a significant annual expense for the healthcare system.
For foreign visitors, the final bill depends on their insurance situation. Tourists from EU countries, the European Economic Area and Switzerland with valid European Health Insurance Cards have their costs covered through international healthcare agreements. Visitors from countries without such agreements may have to pay themselves unless they have travel insurance.
irresponsible behaviour should face consequences
However, if a tourist leaves Croatia without paying a medical bill, the unpaid cost can ultimately fall on Croatian public funds. This means taxpayers may end up covering expenses that were never recovered.The debate comes as Split continues to balance the benefits of being one of Croatia’s most popular tourist destinations with the challenges that come from large numbers of visitors, particularly during the peak summer months.
As tourism grows, Croatia faces an ongoing question: should irresponsible behaviour surrounding alcohol and drug use that requires emergency medical intervention come with a financial consequence?
