Government decides on new regional restrictions on food and beverage service businesses
The Government has amended the decree that restricts the activities of food and beverage service businesses due to the COVID-19 epidemic. The regions of Central Ostrobothnia and North Ostrobothnia and the city of Rovaniemi are moving to the acceleration phase of the epidemic.
The decree will enter into force on 14 August 2021.
Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses in the regions of Southwest Finland, Pirkanmaa and Kymenlaakso, and in Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen, which are all at the community transmission phase of the epidemic, from 14 August :
Food and beverage service businesses 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 must have their own seat at a table or similar in both indoor and outdoor spaces.
In indoor spaces, customers will be directed to sit in their seats. Businesses must draw up and provide their customers with instructions on how to enter or leave the premises or access the area designated for smoking or the toilets and washing facilities and how to collect their takeaway orders of food and drinks. In practice, for example dancing and karaoke are not allowed.
Restrictions on 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, Central Ostrobothnia, North Ostrobothnia and Kainuu, and in the city of Rovaniemi and in those parts of Uusimaa outside Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen, which are all at the acceleration phase of the epidemic, from 14 August:
Food and beverage service businesses may serve alcoholic beverages between 7.00 and 00.00 and be open between 5.00 and 1.00.
Food and beverage service businesses that primarily serve alcoholic beverages are restricted to half of their normal number of customer seats indoors. Other food and beverage service business are restricted to 75 per cent of their normal number of customer seats indoors.
As before, all customers must have their own seat by a table or counter when indoors. The number of customer seats in outdoor terraces is not limited.
Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses in the regions of Åland, South Savo and Lapland, excluding the city of Rovaniemi, from 14 August:
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.
As before, all customers must have their own seat by a table or counter when indoors.
The obligation to observe the general hygiene guidelines and to keep a safe distance applies in all regions.
Exceptions to restrictions remain unchanged
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.
Inquiries:
Ismo Tuominen, Senior Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 295 163341, firstname.lastname@stm.fi