A Happy Hour Ban?

[Wilfrid]

Sentiment rather than policy so far, but being talked about.

 

Aside from the fact that history has taught us repeatedly that trying to reduce drinking by legislating is a really, really stupid and counter-productive thing to do, I am curious what the mechanism would be. Have the DoH setting prices for private retail businesses? Imposing a tax on discounted drinks?

 

Other states have done it, apparently, but I don't know how.

[Wilfrid]

Okay, this is how you do it (per Massachusetts). Must not:

 

sell, offer to sell or deliver to any person or group of persons any

drinks at a price less than the price regularly charged for such drinks

during the same calendar week

 

Yay! Happy week!

[Lex]

Happy Hour prices only for regulars? That way they can spot the inspectors. Regulars already get special pricing in lots of places.

[Sneakeater]

If I were a bar owner, I think I'd think that Happy Hour would lose its point if limited to regulars.

[Lex]

Sometimes it's whats keeps regulars regulars.

[Sneakeater]

No, frequent buy-backs at whatever time they happen to be there is what keeps regulars regulars.

 

Publicized daily specials at a set time bring in new folk.

[Wilfrid]

Terrifyingly, I suspect any legislation would include a technical ban on buybacks (a ban on offering any free drinks).

 

I may have to burn my green card.

[Wilfrid]

RTBC: Best buyback story of last week.

 

Friday night at Yankee stadium was so cold, drinking "ice cold beer" was unappealing. Hence I stopped by a familiar hostelry on my way home to quench my thirst. Bartender asked how I was, and I complained that I had been outside all night and was freezing.

 

"This is on me," said she, placing a beer before me. "It will warm you up."

[9lives]

Okay, this is how you do it (per Massachusetts). Must not:

 

sell, offer to sell or deliver to any person or group of persons any

drinks at a price less than the price regularly charged for such drinks

during the same calendar week

 

Yay! Happy week!

 

I remember when this was instituted in MA. It was a sad day. No more 2 for 1's. There were a few places that heavily pushed this biz. People would stumble out at 6:30, hammered. Not bad if you could walk home, but a disaster for suburbanites that were jumping in their cars. Free apps were prohibited.

 

Far cry from the good old days when we could plan our week around free chicken wings at X and double drinks on Tues.."Swedish" meatballs and double drinks at Y on Wed and so on.. Tough living on $1000/month in Manhattan..even in the 70's..

 

In practice, I usually get a freebie in Boston at the few places I frequent in Boston, but it's not allowed by law.

[Rail Paul]

Many Florida folks have created a matrix for combining lunchtime special menu deals with happy hour special drinks deals. Since different places have different deals, the action switches day by day.

 

Here's an example at a small chain of sports bars in Martin and St Lucie counties. The lunch menu is usually served until 4pm. The $6.99 lunch deal is a 1/2 pound hamburger, fries, salad, and a dessert. The happy hour is 2 for 1 pricing on pints and pitchers of beer, as well as 2 for 1 on mixed drinks, etc. That offer runs from 4 to 6 pm, overlapping the "early bird special" deals.

 

At about 3.45, the place rocks as dozens of people arrive and place their burger platter orders. They also place a drinks order for delivery after 4pm. It becomes the principal meal of the day.

 

Eliminating happy hour would eliminate lots of elected officials on the next go around...