Should happy hour come back to Massachusetts?
Is happy hour coming back to the Bay State? The 28-year-old “happy hour law”, now banning bars and restaurants from pouring free, discounted or two-for-one alcoholic beverages in area restaurants may be updated so restaurants can compete with casinos that may one day be in the state. As part of the ban, cities and towns now rule that a beverage must be priced the same for each calendar week and two drinks can only be served per person at a restaurant. In addition, pitchers of alcohol can only be served to two or more people, according to the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission. The ABCC will hold a hearing in Boston on Aug. 21. Four other hearings will be held throughout the state to gain public feedback. According to an article in …
While many local restaurants would welcome back happy hour, there are concerns about the specials causing more drunk driving incidents.
It has been 28 years since Massachusetts became the first state to ban happy hour. The ban put an end to all promotions involving free or low priced drinks in an effort to cut down on drunk drives and drinking related deaths. With businesses now looking for any revenue they can find, a new push to bring back happy hour has risen in the Commonwealth. Despite a failed effort to repeal the ban as part of the bill to legalize gambling in Massachusetts, the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission will be holding the fourth in a series of five public hearings next week to see if the current regulations regarding happy hour should be updated. With the talks of bringing back happy hour comes talk of more drunk drivers on the road, something that is…
Jeff Sitter
5:22 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
Yep there is always a knucklehead. Thanks for proving my point. more ›