Guideline for serving alcoholic beverages
The National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira) has compiled the main provisions concerning the serving of alcoholic beverages and their interpretation policy into a guideline for serving alcoholic beverages. You will find the guideline at the end of this page.
A holder of a serving licence and their staff are obligated to ensure that the Alcohol Act is complied when serving alcohol. This means that parties active in the restaurant industry must be familiar with the regulations relating to the serving of alcohol. The guideline for serving alcoholic beverages offers a comprehensive overview of the legislation related to the serving of alcohol and interpretations made by the authorities. In addition to the Regional State Administrative Agencies, the guideline is intended for companies, employees and students in the restaurant industry.
The purpose of the guideline is to guide the Regional State Administrative Agencies in the application of the Alcohol Act, as well as to promote the achievement of the general objectives of the Alcohol Act and the reduction of alcohol-related harm.
Guideline serves as training material for alcohol passport test
A certificate of knowledge of the Alcohol Act is called an alcohol passport (anniskelupassi in Finnish). Educational institutions in the restaurant industry that organise alcohol passport tests prepare the questions on the basis of the guideline for serving alcoholic beverages.
The content relevant to the alcohol passport test can be found in Chapters 1–3 of the guideline, which deal with the serving and advertising of alcoholic beverages, and related supervision. Chapter 4 on applying for a serving licence is for licence applicants and licence holders.
Frequently asked questions about serving
The serving of alcoholic beverages refers to selling alcoholic beverages to customers in such a way that the customers drink the beverages at the seller’s premises or under supervision arranged by the seller.
You can apply for a serving licence from the Regional State Administrative Agency through the e-service of the alcohol trade register Allu. Before completing the application, please read the instructions on the website of the Regional State Administrative Agencies. For more information on how to apply for a serving licence and the serving of alcohol, please contact the Regional State Administrative Agency in whose territory your establishment is located. The contact information of the Regional State Administrative Agencies are available on their website.
If you purchase alcoholic beverages for an event and charge for them directly or indirectly in the form of a participation fee, for example, then in principle you will need a serving licence from the Regional State Administrative Agency. You also need a serving licence if you’re arranging a public event or an event in a restaurant or other location where the general public can buy food or beverages. If necessary, you can confirm whether you need a serving licence from the Regional State Administrative Agency in whose territory you are arranging the event.
For more information on licensing requirement and assessing whether a serving licence is required, see the guideline for serving alcoholic beverages at the end of this page.