Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses to be eased
The Government has amended the decree restricting the activities of restaurants and other food and beverage service businesses due to the COVID-19 epidemic. The restrictions will be eased as proposed by the Ministerial Working Group on Health and Social Services last week. In addition, Central Ostrobothnia will move from the community transmission phase to the acceleration phase.
In areas where the epidemic is in the baseline or acceleration phase, the specific ban on dancing and karaoke will be lifted. In areas in the baseline phase, customers will no longer need to be seated at a table when served outdoors. This will make it possible for food and beverage service businesses to operate particularly at public events. The restrictions on opening and licensing hours will also be eased in areas where the epidemic is in the baseline or community transmission phase.
The amendment to the decree will enter into force on 9 June at 00.00.
Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses in baseline areas in the regions of Åland, South Ostrobothnia, Kainuu, North Ostrobothnia, North Savo, North Karelia, Central Finland, South Savo, Ostrobothnia, Satakunta, South Karelia and Lapland from 9 June
Food and beverage service businesses may serve alcoholic beverages between 7.00 and 1.00 and be open to customers between 5.00 and 2.00.
Restaurants that primarily serve alcoholic beverages may have in use half the normal number of customer seats in indoor premises. Other restaurants may seat 75 per cent of their normal number of customers inside their establishments.
The restrictions on the number of customer seats do not apply in Åland.
Restaurants will no longer need to instruct customers to stay seated in indoor premises. This means that the ban on dancing and karaoke will be lifted.
Customers will no longer need to have a seat at a table on outdoor terraces. The customer seating restrictions and the ban on dancing and karaoke do not apply to outdoor terraces.
Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses in areas in the acceleration phase in the regions of Southwest Finland, Kymenlaakso, Pirkanmaa and Central Ostrobothnia from 9 June
Food and beverage service businesses may serve alcoholic beverages between 7.00 and 22.00 and be open between 5.00 and 23.00.
Restaurants that primarily serve alcoholic beverages may have in use half the normal number of customer seats in indoor premises. Other restaurants may seat 75 per cent of their normal number of customers inside their establishments.
Restaurants will no longer need to instruct customers to stay seated in indoor premises. In other words, the ban on dancing and karaoke will be lifted.
On outdoor terraces, each customer must have a seat, and everyone must take care of safe distances. The customer seating restrictions and the ban on dancing and karaoke do not apply to outdoor terraces.
Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses in areas in the community transmission phase in the regions of Päijät-Häme, Uusimaa and Kanta-Häme from 9 June
Restaurants that primarily serve alcoholic beverages may serve alcohol between 7.00 and 18.00 and be open to customers between 5.00 and 19.00. They may have in use half the normal number of customer seats in indoor premises.
Other restaurants may serve alcoholic beverages between 7.00 and 20.00 and be open between 5.00 and 21.00. They may have in use 75 per cent of their normal number of customer seats in indoor premises.
In these areas, restaurants must instruct customers to stay seated in indoor premises. This means that dancing and karaoke, for example, are prohibited.
On outdoor terraces, each customer must have a seat, and everyone must take care of safe distances. The above-mentioned customer seating restrictions and dance ban do not apply to outdoor terraces.
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, [email protected]