Serving Hours and Extensions

Serving alcohol stronger than 2.8% is allowed from 9 AM to 1:30 AM unless the authorities set a different time. On the nights before Independence Day, New Year''s, May Day, and Midsummer, you can serve until 3 AM.

Drinking After Serving Hours

Customers can continue drinking for one hour after the serving time ends, but the place doesn''t need to close at that time. The owner can decide the opening hours.

Extending Serving Hours Indoors

If a bar wants to extend its serving hours indoors beyond 1:30 AM, it can do so until 4 AM by notifying the authorities at least three weeks in advance.

Extending Serving Hours Outdoors

To extend serving hours outdoors until 4 AM, the bar must apply for permission. The bar can start serving alcohol as early as 7 AM, but only with permission and usually linked to breakfast service.

Serving Restrictions in Shared Areas

Serving hours can''t be extended beyond 1:30 AM in shared serving areas, even with an application.

Security Requirements for Extended Hours

If a bar extends serving hours beyond 1:30 AM, it must have one security guard for every 100 customers to maintain order and safety until customers finish drinking.

Daylight Saving Time Changes

Daylight saving time affects serving hours. When the clocks go forward, bars with extended hours must stop serving by 4 AM summer time (3 AM winter time). Customers can still drink for an hour after that. When clocks go back, serving can continue until 4 AM winter time (5 AM summer time).

Serving Alcoholic Drinks

Alcoholic drinks can only be served in open containers, like glasses or cups. However, in some cases, like hotel rooms or private events, unopened bottles can be used as long as the amount of alcohol matches the number of people and safety guidelines.

Standard Drink Sizes

When serving alcohol, standard drink sizes must be available. For example, strong spirits are served in 4 cl portions, and milder drinks are served in larger portions depending on their alcohol content.

Maximum Number of Drinks

There''s no strict limit on how many drinks can be served at once, but each bar must set its own rules for the maximum number of drinks a customer can order at one time if it''s more than four standard servings.

Serving Alcoholic Drinks in Designated Areas

Alcohol can only be served and consumed in areas approved by authorities. These areas should be clearly marked or obvious.

Shared Serving Areas

Multiple businesses can share the same area for serving alcohol, but one must take responsibility for overseeing the area. However, you can''t serve alcohol past 1:30 AM in shared areas.

Drinks in the Serving Area

You can only drink alcohol that has been sold specifically for consumption in that area. You can''t bring in outside alcohol, even if it was bought from the same place through retail sale.

Keeping Drinks in the Area

Alcohol served in one area can''t be taken outside that area. But if the authorities approve, customers may be allowed to move their drinks to another area within the same establishment according to a plan.

Retail Sale of Alcohol in Bars

Retail sale means selling alcohol to be consumed somewhere other than where it was bought. Bars can sell drinks up to 5.5% alcohol content to customers to take away if they have a special retail license. The alcohol must be in sealed, pre-packaged containers.

Sale Hours

Alcohol can only be sold for takeaway between 9 AM and 9 PM. The drinks must be handed to the customer within these hours.

Storage of Purchased Drinks

Bars can have a plan for storing customers'' purchased drinks, like at a coat check, if they choose to stay at the bar after buying alcohol to take away.

Payment for Alcohol

Alcohol does not need to be paid for at the exact moment it is delivered, but the sale must be directly between the buyer and the holder of the serving licence. Prepayment through the internet is allowed. If alcohol is sold on credit, the establishment''s self-monitoring plan must include the maximum credit limit and how credit sales are monitored.