Leaving terrace with drink can cause trouble for restaurateur, expert says

Some restaurant customers are unaware that they cannot leave a licensed terrace with their drink, potentially putting the establishment at risk of penalties, Yle reports.

Restaurateur Katariina Kuusisto, who runs a restaurant on Lake Pyhäjärvi in Säkylä, said she recently had to stop young male customers from leaving with half-finished drinks. “When I told them that purchased alcohol must be consumed on the licensed area, they were genuinely surprised,” she said.

Kuusisto noted that most customers understand the rules, but her restaurant still needs security staff on weekends. She suggested that rules could be loosened, for example by allowing a security guard to pour the drink into a plastic cup for takeaway.

Sami Allén, alcohol inspector at Finland’s Licensing and Supervision Agency, outlined the basic rules: only drinks sold by the licensee may be consumed on the terrace, no one may leave the area with a drink, minors and intoxicated persons must not be served, and disruptive behaviour is forbidden.

Violations are handled based on severity and repetition. In milder cases, the establishment receives guidance. In more serious cases involving negligence, a penalty fee of 300 to 1,000 euros may be imposed. If the issue persists, the licence can be suspended or permanently revoked.

“The consequences are directed at the entrepreneur, which doesn’t feel fair,” Kuusisto said.

Kai Massa, legal director at the hospitality industry association Mara, said customers generally comply and stay on the licensed area. He said it is better to drink on a supervised terrace than with canned beer in a park.

Allén said inspections are risk-based and also target new licensed premises.