Restrictions on bar, restaurant in some regions from 24 July

The government on Thursday has decided to impose restrictions on the opening hours of the restaurants and bars in some regions from 24 July against the backdrop of the coronavirus situation.

The government has amended the decree restricting the activities of food and beverage service businesses, said the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health in a press release.

In line with the decree, restrictions on the opening and licensing hours of food and beverage service businesses will be in force in the Kymenlaakso, Pirkanmaa, Päijät-Häme, Uusimaa and Southwest Finland regions where the epidemic is in the acceleration phase.

In these regions, food and beverage service businesses may serve alcoholic beverages between 7:00 and 00.00 and may be open between 5:00 and 1:00.

Restaurants that primarily serve alcoholic beverages may have half the normal number of customer seats in use in indoor premises. Other restaurants may seat 75 per cent of their normal number of customers inside their establishments.

As before, all customers must have their own seat by a table or counter when indoors. The number of customer seats on outdoor terraces is not limited.

The restrictions laid down in the decree do not apply to the activities of staff restaurants or to takeaway sales of food to customers.

The restrictions on opening hours do not apply to food and beverage service businesses on vessels and aircraft that operate between Finland and other countries or abroad or to food and beverage service businesses that operate at distribution stations for liquid fuels.

The new restrictions on food and beverage service businesses, however, will not be applicable in the regions of Åland, South Ostrobothnia, Kainuu, North Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia, North Savo, North Karelia, Central Finland, South Savo, Ostrobothnia, Satakunta, South Karelia, Kanta-Häme and Lapland.

The regional epidemic situation will be reviewed over the course of next week. If the situation deteriorates, the restrictions on the opening hours of food and beverage service businesses may be further extended.