FINLAND TO EXTEND RESTAURANT, BAR RESTRICTIONS TO JUNE 2021

The Finnish Hospitality Association says continued restrictions are difficult for the industry but are nonetheless acceptable, the Finnish news service Yle reported late last week.

This position was reiterated after the Finnish government proposed to extend the restrictions on restaurants, bars and cafés through the end of June. The current rules are in force until the end of February.

The center-left cabinet submitted the proposed amendment to the Communicable Diseases Act to Parliament. The restrictions were temporarily added to the law last May.

Timo Lappi, CEO of the Finnish Hospitality Association (MaRa) said the continuation of restrictions is difficult for the industry, but that he was satisfied with the decision.

"Given the pandemic situation and how the restaurant industry is being regulated elsewhere in Europe, we are pleased," he said.

"Of course, we hoped that the restrictions could be lifted, but in this situation, the government certainly looked closely at the difficult economic situation of restaurants and employees, while also taking into account the good work that has generally been done in restaurants.” Lappi said nightclubs and pubs are in a particularly tough position.

"The decisive factor is whether alcohol sales end at 10 pm or midnight. The entire sector has lost turnover. A fairly large share of businesses face the threat of bankruptcy next summer," he concluded.

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