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19.12.2025 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is requesting comments on a draft government proposal that would extend the right of small alcohol producers to sell their products for takeaway. In future, a larger number of domestic alcohol producers could sell alcoholic beverages produced by them directly to consumers at production premises. Comments on the draft proposal can be submitted between 19 December 2025 and 13 February 2026.

10.10.2024 | The Government proposes an amendment to the Alcohol Act that would allow the delivery of alcoholic beverages to customers. In practice, the amendment would allow, for example, home deliveries and online sales of alcoholic beverages.

5.7.2024 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is requesting comments on a government proposal that would allow the delivery of alcoholic beverages from domestic retail outlets directly to recipients. This proposal is part of the implementation of the Government Programme. Comments on the government proposal can be submitted between 5 July and 30 August 2024.

22.12.2021 | The Government has amended the decree restricting the activities of restaurants and other food and beverage service businesses due to the COVID-19 epidemic. As from 24 December 2021, the use of the COVID-19 passport will be restricted for about three weeks. The restrictions on food and beverage services businesses that are necessary to prevent the spread of the epidemic will be introduced in the region of North Savo, while restrictions will be lifted for the Åland Islands.

26.4.2024 | Prime Minister Orpo’s Government spending limits discussion 15–16 April 2024 Tax measures Total impact on general government finances including dynamic effects (rough estimate, not calculated for all measures), Impact on tax revenue (static effect...

5.3.2024 | On 4 March 2023, the EU Member States, European Parliament and Commission reached a provisional political agreement on a proposal for a regulation on packaging and packaging waste. Finland has taken an active part in the preparation of the regulation. The proposal that was agreed on can be evaluated in further detail only after its final content is available. The proposal is still pending formal adoption by the Member States and Parliament.

12.2.2021 | On 11 February 2021, the European Commission requested that Finnish authorities provide further information on the regulation of retail sales of beverages containing up to 5.5% alcohol by volume. The request is related to the so-called EU Pilot mechanism between the Commission and a Member State.

26.11.2021 | The Government has amended the decree that restricts the activities of food and beverage service businesses due to the COVID-19 epidemic. The restrictions on licensing and opening hours will be tightened in areas where the epidemic is in the community transmission phase. In addition, restrictions on food and beverage service businesses will be reintroduced in the region of South Karelia.

5.1.2022 | The Government has amended the decree restricting the activities of restaurants and other food and beverage service businesses due to the COVID-19 epidemic. Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses that are necessary to prevent the spread of the epidemic will be introduced in Åland.

30.12.2021 | 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 on food and beverage service businesses that are necessary to prevent the spread of the epidemic will be introduced across the region of South Savo and in the region of North Karelia.

11.1.2022 | The Government has amended the decree that restricts the activities of food and beverage service businesses due to the COVID-19 epidemic. From now on, all food and beverage services businesses must close at 18.00. In addition, the restrictions on the use of the COVID-19 passport will be extended until the end of January. The decree on the opening hours of food and beverage service businesses will enter into force on 12 January 2022 at 00.00 and it will remain in force until 31 January 2022.

25.11.2021 | On 25 November, the Ministerial Working Group on Health and Social Services discussed the COVID-19 situation in Finland and the restrictions in place. The Ministerial Working Group proposes tighter restrictions on food and beverage service businesses. The Government will decide on the matter as soon as possible.

8.6.2021 | 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.

10.6.2021 | The Government has amended the decree restricting the activities of restaurants and other food and beverage service businesses due to the COVID-19 epidemic. As a result, Pirkanmaa and Kymenlaakso will move to baseline restrictions. 

11.6.2021 | The Government has amended the decree restricting the activities of restaurants and other food and beverage service businesses due to the COVID-19 epidemic. As a result, the region of Uusimaa will move to acceleration phase restrictions.

12.5.2021 | 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 almost throughout the country, depending on the epidemiological situation in each area. The amendment to the decree will enter into force on 13 May at 00.00.

20.5.2021 | 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 on opening and licensing hours will be tightened in the regions of Kanta-Häme and Central Ostrobothnia because of the worsened epidemiological situation in these regions. In the region of South Karelia, however, the situation has improved so the restrictions on opening and licensing hours will be eased.

3.6.2021 | The Government has amended the decree restricting the activities of restaurants and other food and beverage service businesses due to the COVID-19 epidemic. This means that the region of South Karelia and the Hospital District of Länsi-Pohja can now move from restrictions for the acceleration phase to baseline restrictions and the region of Southwest Finland can move from restrictions for the community transmission phase to acceleration phase restrictions.

16.12.2021 | The Government has amended the decree that restricts the activities of food and beverage service businesses due to the COVID-19 epidemic. The restrictions on food and beverage services businesses that are necessary to prevent the spread of the epidemic will be introduced in the whole of Lapland and the Hospital District of South Savo.

3.12.2021 | The Government has amended the decree restricting the activities of food and beverage service businesses due to the COVID-19 epidemic. Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses that are necessary to prevent the spread of the epidemic will be introduced in Åland.