Applying for, changing, and terminating a retail trade licence for alcoholic beverages

A licence is required for the retail sales of alcoholic beverages containing more than 2.8 per cent of alcohol. The alcohol retail trade licence must be applied for from the Finnish Supervisory Agency and granted before starting the retail sales operations. The licence must be applied for by each trader and for each place of business.

The retail sale of an alcoholic beverage refers to the sale of an alcoholic beverage for consumption outside the premises controlled by the seller or under the supervision organised by the seller. In retail sales, alcoholic beverages may be sold only in pre-filled sealed packaging, such as bottles or cans, by handing them over to customers indoors at an approved retail outlet.  

Retail sales of alcoholic beverages with an alcohol content of more than 2.8 per cent requires a licence from the Finnish Supervisory Authority. An alcohol retail trade licence may be granted to an adult natural or legal person who meets the requirements for obtaining the licence laid down in the Alcohol Act. For example, the applicant must not be bankrupt and must be able to fulfil their financial obligations. For example, tax debts may prevent the granting of the licence. The Finnish Supervisory Agency grants the licence on the basis of the overall consideration required by the Alcohol Act. 

Applying for a retail trade licence 

Apply for an alcohol retail trade licence in the Alcohol Trade Register e-service.

Use of the e-service will require a business ID. If you are acting on behalf of a company, you must have the right to sign for the company or an authorisation to act on behalf of the company granted by a person with the right to sign. Mandates can be granted in the Suomi.fi service.  

Please fill in the licence application carefully and submit the requested attachments so that the processing of your licence application will be as smooth as possible. Once the Finnish Supervisory Agency has received sufficient information, the processing time of the licence application is approximately one month. 

The Finnish Supervisory Authority may request additional clarifications or supplementary information for the application. If necessary, statements from other authorities, such as the Police and the Tax Administration, will be requested for the application. On a case-by-case basis, the Finnish Supervisory Agency may also reserve an opportunity for the immediate vicinity of the serving premises to comment on the pending application.  

What kind of premises can be licensed for retail sales of alcohol? 

An alcohol retail trade licence for the sales of alcoholic beverages produced by fermentation and with an alcohol content of a maximum of 8.0 percent by volume and for alcoholic beverages produced by other means and with an alcohol content of a maximum of 5.5 per cent by volume may be granted to    

•     food shops   
•     vehicles and vessels used as mobile shops   
•     premises licensed to serve alcohol   
•     premises where alcoholic beverages are produced     

The licence cannot be granted for temporary sales or for outdoor premises.      

You may also get an alcohol retail trade licence for premises producing fruit wines with an alcohol content of a maximum of 13 per cent or premises producing craft beers with an alcohol content of a maximum of 12 per cent.  

Notification of changes

If any substantial changes occur in operations, the Finnish Supervisory Agency must be notified of these well in advance before changes enter force. Such changes include the introduction of a self-service checkout or setting up an online shop. Applications and notifications of changes to the licence are submitted in the Alcohol Trade Register’s e-service. Look for the licence number to which you want to make a change and submit a change application. 

You must submit a notification also when you transfer your business to another company or to a private trader, or when your business ID changes. In that case, the person continuing your business operations must apply for a new alcohol retail trade licence. The new trader must not sell alcohol beverages before a new licence has been granted to them for the business.    

If there are changes in the ownership of the licence-holder company or changes in its administration, the Finnish Supervisory Agency will automatically be informed of this by the Finnish Patent and Registration Office.   

A fee is charged for the changes in accordance with the agency’s price list. 

Terminating the alcohol retail trade licence

The termination of retail sales activities must be notified to the Finnish Supervisory Agency. The notification can be submitted in the e-service of the Alcohol Trade Register by applying for a change to the licence and by adding the end date of the licence. Alternatively, you can notify the Finnish Supervisory Agency of the termination by sending a free-form e-mail. 

The permit holder must also submit an annual report of the sales made by the end date to the Finnish Supervisory Agency. 

Processing and enforcement fees in alcohol retail trade

A processing fee in accordance with the price list is charged for retail trade licences, retail trade notifications and changes. For an application that has been withdrawn or left incomplete, half of the fee that would otherwise have been charged will be charged.

The Finnish Supervisory Agency charges an annual enforcement fee from each person holding a retail trade licence for an indefinite period. The fee is charged for each place of business. We invoice the enforcement fees in retail trade every calendar year by 30 April at the latest for licences that have been valid since 1 April. No fee is charged for the first calendar year.  

Processing and supervision fees are enforceable without a separate decision or judgement. The payments will be invoiced by the Government Shared Services Centre for Finance and HR.