Smoking bans and restrictions

The purpose of the smoking bans and restrictions in the Tobacco Act is to protect the population from the health hazards caused by environmental tobacco smoke. This prevents involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke, which is a carcinogenic substance.

Smoking bans in housing companies

Housing companies may apply for a smoking ban. A smoking ban can be applied for

• balconies belonging to apartments
• outdoor areas in use by apartments
• indoor areas of apartments

Under the Tobacco Act, smoking is always prohibited in the residential properties of a housing company or other residential community in

• shared indoor areas
• public indoor areas

A housing company or other residential community may prohibit smoking in the following areas under its control:

• shared outdoor areas near building entrances and air intakes
• children’s play areas
• shared balconies

If a smoking ban is sought for the interior of an apartment, the housing company must, in practice, always determine before submitting the application whether the drift of smoke can be prevented through structural repairs or modifications at a reasonable cost. In these cases, the occupant of the residential space must also be given the opportunity to prevent the drift of smoke through their own measures before the ban is imposed.

A smoking ban can be imposed on balconies and outdoor areas in use by an apartment without attempting to prevent the drift of smoke.

You can read more on the Finnish Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health website: Smoking bans

If you are applying for a smoking ban for a housing company, please contact Health Inspector Simo Erkko.

Daycare centres, family daycare, and educational institutions

Smoking is prohibited in the indoor and outdoor areas of daycare centres, as well as in the indoor areas of family daycare during daycare hours.

Smoking is prohibited in educational institutions regardless of the age of the students.

• indoor areas of institutions providing basic education
• indoor areas of institutions providing vocational education
• indoor areas of institutions providing upper secondary education
• student dormitories
• outdoor areas used by the aforementioned educational institutions and dormitories

Outdoor areas include areas delimited by the plot in question, as well as areas belonging to the regions controlled by the educational institution or daycare centre.

No separate room or other space for smoking may be arranged in these institutions. This also applies to separate events organised on their premises.

Smoking may also be restricted on the premises of educational institutions other than those mentioned above, even if it is not prohibited under the Tobacco Act.

Institutions providing care for minors

Smoking is prohibited in indoor areas intended for persons under 18 years of age and in outdoor areas intended for them in institutions providing care under the Child Welfare Act or the Mental Health Act.

No separate room or other space for smoking may be arranged in the indoor areas intended for persons under 18 years of age in these institutions. This also applies to events.

Indoor areas intended for customers

According to the Tobacco Act, smoking is prohibited in indoor areas used by the public, employees, or customers. The smoking ban applies, for example, to

• indoor areas reserved for the public and customers in government offices and comparable public institutions
• indoor areas of public events
• indoor areas of public transport
• shared, public, and customer-facing indoor areas of work communities
• indoor areas of hotels and other accommodation establishments

Smoking bans at playgrounds, beaches, daycare centres, schools, educational institutions, and care facilities are monitored by health inspectors:

Public events organised in outdoor areas

Smoking is prohibited at public events organised in outdoor areas in

• shelters
• stands
• other spaces directly intended for following the event where participants remain stationary (such as in front of a stage); this may also include completely open outdoor spaces
• also on the outdoor terrace of a catering establishment when a musical performance or other programme is organised there that the audience follows from their seats

Such events include, among others,

• sports competitions
• concerts
• theatre, opera, and film screenings

The smoking ban is in effect for the duration of the public event. It applies to both paid and free events.

However, the organiser of a public event or the holder of an outdoor area may allow smoking in a part of the space reserved for this purpose, provided that tobacco smoke cannot drift into areas where smoking is prohibited.

It is therefore possible to build a smoking area in a shelter or stand.

Smoking may also be permitted, for example, in a field intended for watching a concert, as long as the smoking area is far enough from the stage so that tobacco smoke does not drift into the audience following the event from a stationary position.

The area designated for smoking must be located so that tobacco smoke does not drift indoors through windows, doors, ventilation, or other openings and cause a nuisance to the users of the building.

Signs indicating the smoking ban and any space intended for smoking must be visible. The organiser of a public event must also instruct staff or security guards to monitor compliance with the smoking ban.

Violation of the smoking bans prescribed by the Tobacco Act may result in criminal consequences for the person violating the ban and/or the event organiser.

Smoking is prohibited in restaurant service areas

The smoking ban must be observed in the service area, and there must be no signs of smoking, such as ashtrays.

Signs indicating the smoking ban and the space intended for smoking must be visible. In a smoke-free place, a sign such as “We are a smoke-free restaurant” or similar is sufficient.

The content of signs and other notices must be unambiguous, and their size and placement must be such that they are easily observable by those arriving at or staying in the premises.

Tobacco smoke must not drift from the outdoor service area (terrace) into the restaurant.

Smoking in the indoor areas of a restaurant or other catering establishment may only be permitted in a separate smoking room approved for smoking.

Smoking is prohibited in many indoor areas intended for customers.

Smoking bans at events, restaurants, and canteens are monitored by health inspectors: