North Macedonia has finally had enough of wild hospitality! After the tragic fire in a Kočani nightclub on March 16, which claimed 62 lives and injured many more, the country has cracked down hard – shutting down 60 venues across the nation. Yes, you read that right, 60! Inspections revealed that most of these places operated without licenses, under poor conditions, and violated technical standards. In Skopje, the capital, there isn’t a single cabaret or disco club with a valid license, and nationwide there are only 14 legal licenses. The Director of the State Market Inspectorate, Vlatko Stojkoski, promises tough penalties and criminal liability for owners who break the law. A new hospitality law is in the works, with strict provisions and no tolerance for negligence. “The hospitality sector must be a model of legal, responsible, and competitive business,” Stojkoski declared. This massive crackdown finally shows that working outside the law is no longer acceptable and that citizen safety comes first. But is this the end of wild hospitality or just a temporary fix? And how long will these controls last? One thing is clear – after the Kočani tragedy, things are changing, and those who have been operating on the edge of the law will have to adapt or shut down for good. If you have a favorite club or bar, check if it’s legal – maybe it’s time to stop turning a blind eye to the dangers lurking behind the disco lights. What do you think about these measures? Is the government finally putting an end to wild hospitality, or is this just a show? Drop a comment, let’s see who’s for and who’s against! #SafetyFirst
