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:

• Strong spirits (more than 22% alcohol): 4 cl
• Beverages with more than 15% but no more than 22% alcohol: 8 cl
• Beverages with more than 8% but no more than 15% alcohol: 12 cl
• Beverages with no more than 8% alcohol: 33 cl

Kitchen Alcohol

A restaurant can apply for a license to use alcohol in cooking. This type of alcohol is meant only for preparing food and is tax-free. You can''t use it to make drinks or cocktails. If you break this rule, your license to use or serve alcohol could be taken away.

Applying for the Kitchen Alcohol License

You need to apply to Valvira for this license. You must include information about how you''ll use the alcohol and how much you''ll need each year. You must keep a record of the alcohol you use and store. You can also use alcohol that was bought for serving customers in cooking, but you must keep records of how much is used.

What Is Contrary to Good Practice

An activity is ''contrary to good practice'' if it conflicts with commonly accepted societal values, especially if it endangers health. Examples include:

• Organizing drinking contests where large amounts of alcohol are consumed quickly — this could endanger customer health.
• Selling or allowing alcohol consumption through unusual methods, like absorption through mucous membranes or inhalation.
• Offering unlimited alcohol (''all-you-can-drink'') for a fixed price — this can encourage excessive drinking.
• Selling alcohol on credit to vulnerable groups — this could be seen as taking advantage of their situation.

Package pricing of dining with alcoholic beverages is not necessarily contrary to good practice, but it depends on how it is marketed and the nature of the serving.

What Is Retail Sale

Retail sale means selling alcohol to be consumed somewhere other than where it was bought. Bars can sell fermented drinks up to 8% alcohol and non-fermented drinks up to 5.5% alcohol to take away, if they have a special retail licence. The alcohol must be in sealed, pre-packaged containers.

Sale Hours

Alcohol can only be sold for takeaway between 9 AM and 9 PM.

Mixing and Packaging

To mix and package alcoholic beverages with more than 2.8% alcohol for retail sales, a production licence is required. Mixing products with no more than 2.8% alcohol must be notified to the food authority, and the operator becomes liable for product safety and labelling.

Self-Regulation Plans

Bars with a retail licence must include details about their retail operations in their self-regulation plans. Authorities may impose conditions on the till and sales process if there are specific safety or security risks.