Alcohol service and permits at parties: when a permit or notification is needed

What alcohol serving means

Under the definition in the Alcohol Act, serving is the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on premises under the seller's control. A licence is needed for serving when selling beverages with more than 2.8 percent alcohol by volume. The licence is granted per company and per place of business, and from 1.1.2026 it is granted by the Licensing and Supervisory Agency, to which the licensing tasks of Valvira and the regional state administrative agencies were transferred.

According to Valvira's serving guidance (2022), an event counts as alcohol serving if the organiser procures the drinks and charges for them either directly or as part of other charges. For example, an admission ticket whose price includes drinks can therefore make the event subject to a licence.

Private party at a rented venue

When hosts offer their own drinks to invited guests free of charge, it is not a sale. However, the venue's terms matter a great deal. According to Valvira's guidance, without a licence to serve alcohol, alcoholic beverages may not be consumed in restaurants or in places where food or refreshments are sold to the public for payment. In addition, serving and consuming a customer's own alcoholic beverages in a licensed premises is always prohibited.

If you hire a function hall from a restaurant or hotel, drinks are therefore usually bought from the venue's own selection. If you rent a space from a parish, association or city, ask in advance whether alcohol is allowed and on what terms. If the situation is unclear, check with the customer service of the Regulatory and Supervisory Agency (Lupa- ja valvontavirasto).

Catering and temporary alcohol service

If you order catering for a party that also sells drinks, the service must hold an alcohol serving licence. A licence holder can serve alcohol at a pre-approved serving place by submitting a notification at least 72 hours before the event. The processing fee for the notification in 2026 is €185 per event when submitted electronically.

You can apply for a fixed-term licence for temporary serving. A fixed-term licence for at most 30 days and at most 200 customer places costs €755 when applied for electronically. The fee for a paper application is 20% higher. Serving after 1.30 a.m. requires a separate notification or application for extended hours.

Always ask the caterer whether it holds a valid alcohol serving licence and whether the party venue is approved as a licensed serving premises. If the venue has not been approved, approval must be applied for separately in good time, at the latest a month in advance. In 2026 the approval of a serving premises costs €855 electronically, so it is worth finding out the cost before choosing the venue.

Notification of a public event to the police

A public event is an event that anyone can attend without a separate invitation or membership. According to the police, a notification of a public event is made at least five days before the event begins. If the event requires traffic arrangements or temporary security stewards, the notification must be made at least two weeks in advance.

Weddings or birthdays held for invited guests are not public events under this definition. If, however, you sell tickets to an open party, such as a ball, it is a public event.

The notification is made by the organiser, who is also responsible for the event being safe. At large events the police may require security stewards. According to the police, large events can be notified up to a year in advance, which makes arrangements easier.

Rescue plan for a large event

A rescue plan is needed for a public event, among other cases, when at least 200 people are expected to be present at the same time. The plan must be submitted to the regional rescue authority at least 14 days before the event, and according to the police the deadline is absolute.

The venue owner often has a ready rescue plan and knows the maximum permitted number of people. Ask for both when drawing up the rental agreement.

Checklist for the organiser

Go through these at least a month before the party:

Is the event a private invitation-only event or a public event open to all?
Is alcohol sold directly or included in the ticket price? If it is, a serving licence is needed.
Does the venue or the caterer have an alcohol serving licence, and are your own drinks allowed?
Does the number of people exceed 200, in which case a rescue plan may be needed?
Must a police notification be made five days or two weeks in advance?

Find a venue with Venue Radar

In Venue Radar you can compare venues and their price lists. When you ask for a quote, also ask about the venue's alcohol serving practices, maximum permitted number of people and whether the venue has a ready rescue plan.

Frequently asked questions

Is a serving licence needed for a wedding?

Usually not, if the hosts offer the drinks to invited guests free of charge and no fee is charged for them directly or as part of other fees. The venue's own terms may still restrict alcohol.

How much does an alcohol serving licence cost in 2026?

A permanent permit costs €1,230 electronically, and a fixed-term permit of up to 30 days for up to 200 customer seats costs €755.

When must a public event be reported to the police?

At least five days before. If traffic arrangements or temporary security stewards are needed, at least two weeks before.

Venue Radar brings together the topic's figures, deadlines and services. Open Venue Radar →

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Sources

The article is general information and does not replace the guidance of an authority, a lawyer or an adviser. Check up-to-date information from the sources.