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 the Boston Herald, the casino bill passed last year requires the ABCC to complete a study by Jan. 31 of whether the happy hour law should be updated or amended.
The happy hour law was enacted in part to prevent intoxicated people from being over-served and driving under the influence, the Herald article said.
But what do you think? Should happy hour come back to Massachusetts?
thomas mcgrath
4:39 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012
Yes bring the Happy Hour back. It will give business owners and people strapped for cash a break. We still have drunk driving laws that should be enforced.
Jennifer Simckowitz
4:55 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012
YES!! Bring it back.
Rick Hamilton
5:07 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012
I feel neutral about this subject.
Alcohol is a depressant. Happy Hour implies happiness, don't they sort of cancel each other out?
Michael West
5:27 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012
Why?
Jennifer Simckowitz
5:36 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012
People come in for drinks and stay for dinner. Helps the local businesses make more money.
ADumbledore
6:09 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012
No way. too much trouble comes from it.
DONNY3666
7:55 am on Saturday, August 18, 2012
Sounds great to me. Especialy for retired people that just want to meet their friends at a place for some good old fashioned fun.
Cheryl Burns
9:13 am on Saturday, August 18, 2012
I remember Happy Hour well. Every Friday groups of
people from work would go to bars for cheap drinks and free eats and stay until well into the night after which many would drive home drunk. I believe that was the origin of TGIF. The demise of Happy Hour came from the number of Dui accidents and deaths and the resultant liability issues for bartenders serving drinks to people already drunk, lest we forget.
alfred e neuman
6:07 pm on Saturday, August 18, 2012
People dont really drive drunk do they ? Results are what the drinker seeks ,one at a time or one in each hand, makes no difference till the desired result is achieved. Maybe resurrecting a couple of barren old maids from MADD we can all delude ourselves into thinking the world dont go round. Misery loves company, its always happy hour where ever booze is served .
Carolyn J Puleo
10:22 am on Monday, August 20, 2012
I do not support happy hour. It only increases the chance of drunk driving. We need to do everything we can to keep our streets safe. Talk to soneone who has lost a child, friend, anyone from a drunk driver.