Bars and restaurants may start serving alcohol at 7:00 at the earliest
The government says it wants to clear up some ambiguity that has arisen over whether a business can resume serving alcoholic beverages after it has been closed for an hour.
The Finnish government has made a clarification to the decree on temporarily restricting the activities of food and beverage service businesses issued on 29 October.
Under the decree, food and beverage service businesses -meaning bars, restaurants, pubs...- may begin serving alcohol at 7.00 at the earliest. This applies to all regions regardless of their epidemiological situation.
The amended Decree enters into force on 6 November 2020.
Ambiguity
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health says the clarification is necessary because there has been some ambiguity as to when businesses may begin serving alcoholic beverages.
The decree issued on 29 October states that businesses subject to the restrictions may generally reopen one hour after closing.
This means that a business that has stopped serving alcoholic beverages at 24.00 and must close at 1.00 may reopen as a night cafe starting at 2.00, for example. Some ambiguity has arisen as to whether a business may resume serving alcoholic beverages after it has been closed for one hour.
According to the government, "this is not the intended interpretation of the provisions and, in accordance with the clarification made, businesses may begin serving alcohol at 7.00 at the earliest."
In force until mid-December
In addition, food and beverage service businesses must always comply with the Alcohol Act and any conditions attached to their serving licence when serving alcoholic beverages.
The government decided on 29 October to impose temporary restrictions on the activities of food and beverage service businesses as of 1 November 2020.
The Decree was adopted under the new temporary provisions of the Communicable Diseases Act and will remain in force until 15 December 2020.