Tighter restrictions on bar, restaurant in some regions from Sunday

The government on Thursday decided to impose further restrictions on food and beverage service businesses in some regions against the backdrop of the worsening coronavirus situation.

The restrictions will be imposed on restaurants and bars in the regions of Southwest Finland, Pirkanmaa and Kymenlaakso, and in Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen, where the pandemic reached to the community transmission phase from 8 August 00 o'clock, said an official press release.

The government has amended the decree that restricts the activities of food and beverage service businesses due to the COVID-19 epidemic.

Food and beverage service businesses under these regions may serve alcoholic beverages between 7.00 and 22.00 and be open between 5.00 and 23.00.

Food and beverage service businesses that primarily serve alcoholic beverages are restricted to only half of their normal number of customer seats. This applies not only to indoor areas but also, as a new restriction, to outdoors areas. Other food and beverage service businesses are restricted to 75 per cent of their normal number of customer seats indoors and outdoors.

All customers of food and beverage service businesses must have their own seat at a table or counter. This applies to both indoor and outdoor premises.

A ban is also imposed on dancing and karaoke in indoor premises. Customers will instead be directed to sit in their seats.

Food and beverage service businesses in the regions of Satakunta, Kanta-Häme, Päijät-Häme, South Karelia, North Savo, North Karelia, Central Finland, South Ostrobothnia, Ostrobothnia and Kainuu, and in those parts of Uusimaa outside Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen, which are all at the acceleration phase of the epidemic may serve alcoholic beverages between 7.00 and 00.00 and be open between 5.00 and 1.00.

Food and beverage service businesses in the regions of Åland, North Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia, South Savo and Lapland have no separate restrictions on the number of customers or on licensing and opening hours.

An exception to this applies to food and beverage service businesses in Åland. These businesses may serve alcoholic beverages between 7.00 and 00.00 and be open between 5.00 and 1.00.

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.