More lenient restrictions on food and beverage service businesses in Uusimaa to enter into force on 11 June at 18.00

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.

The more lenient restrictions on food and beverage service businesses in Uusimaa will enter into force on 11 June at 18.00. The restrictions in place in other areas will remain unchanged.

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, Pirkanmaa, Kymenlaakso and Lapland from 11 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.

Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses in areas in the acceleration phase in the regions of Uusimaa, Southwest Finland and Central Ostrobothnia from 11 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.

On outdoor terraces, each customer must have a seat, and everyone must take care of safe distances. The customer seating restrictions 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 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]

• Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses