Happy Hour Is NOT Coming Back To Massachusetts Anytime Soon

Happy Hour Is NOT Coming Back To Massachusetts. Since 1984, drink specials and happy hours have been banned in Massachusetts. The reason was because of the number of drunk driving accidents and injuries and deaths in the Commonwealth. Until recently, the ban had never been challenged. A bill had been talked about that would give different communities to allow Happy Hour back under certain restrictions. In the past, restaurant owners have been against the bill saying it affected their profit margins among other things. The reason the new bill had been proposed was because residents seem to be leaving the state in droves. Lawmakers were hoping that the reinstating of Happy Hour to Massachusetts may be a catalyst to keeping people here.

Unfortunately, that will not be the case at this time. According to the "Only In Boston" X account, "ALERT: Massachusetts lawmakers will not be bringing back happy hour to the Commonwealth at this time, after Massachusetts restaurants spoke out against the legislation." No further details have been made public at this time.

Reaction to the news has not been great. @sanderson_16 tweeted "Oh restaurants don’t want to have to give a discount on their crazy alcohol costs? Shocker."

Another reaction on X came from @mattfiniz: "Well this is pathetic and a stupid decision!!! We are litterally the only state that doesnt have this wtf."

No word if this law will be introduced at a later date.

I've spent most of my adult life living in Massachusetts. Since I've spent most of my time here it never really seemed odd to me that we don't have Happy Hours. Then my work took me to Dallas, Texas. Wow, they sure love. their Happy Hours. Then work took me briefly to Baltimore, Maryland. Wow, they sure love their Happy Hours too.

I stopped drinking a couple of years ago but in my vast experience during my drinking ages I can tell you this: some bars serve watered down juice and call it alcohol for that cheaper-than-normal money and some bars give you a whole lot more! I've run into many more in that first category than the second. But one thing that bonds together most Happy Hour bars is that they're all pretty happy. The energy is electric and people seem genuinely happy to be throwin' a couple back with the sun up.

So the question is: why no Happy Hour, Massachusetts?

Though you could probably come up with the reasoning, we'll get. into that here. Below I will give you the 9 states that have banned Happy Hour. I'll let you know in what year Happy Hour was outlawed in each state and each state's reasoning for making Happy Hours illegal there.

First, some Happy Hour by the numbers:
2.5 - number of hours the average patron spends at a Happy Hour.
26 - the percent extra a bar earns during Happy Hour
55 - percent of Americans who have attended a "virtual Happy Hour" (oh COVID!)

Most Happy Hours happen on Fridays and the most common hours are 4-7p or 5-8p. The biggest reason given by patrons for going to a Happy Hour is. discounted food.

Now let's get into the UnHappy Eight - the 9 States Where Happy Hours Are Banned (and why each state banned them):

HAPPY HOURS HAVE BEEN BANNED SINCE: 1985
WHY IT'S BANNED THERE: Alaska believes that happy hour leads to excessive drinking and contributes to alcohol-related accidents and deaths.

HAPPY HOURS HAVE BEEN BANNED SINCE: 1985
ALTHOUGH IT'S BANNED THERE: Though Happy Hour is illegal in Indiana, establishments are allowed to offer drink specials between 11 am and 3 pm and after 9 pm.

HAPPY HOURS HAVE BEEN BANNED SINCE: 1985
WHY IT'S BANNED THERE: North Carolina believes that happy hour promotes unhealthy drinking habits and leads to alcohol-related accidents and deaths.

HAPPY HOURS HAVE BEEN BANNED SINCE: 1984
ALTHOUGH IT'S BANNED THERE: Establishments in Oklahoma are allowed to offer drink specials between 4 pm and 7 pm and after 11 pm.

HAPPY HOURS HAVE BEEN BANNED SINCE: 2011
WHY IT'S BANNED THERE: Utah has some of the strictest alcohol laws in the country, and happy hour is no exception. The state prohibits all drink specials, including happy hour.

HAPPY HOURS HAVE BEEN BANNED SINCE: 1989
WHY IT'S BANNED THERE: Washington state believes happy hour encourages excessive drinking and leads to drunk driving.

HAPPY HOURS HAVE BEEN BANNED SINCE: 1984
WHY IT'S BANNED THERE: Massachusetts banned happy hour in 1984 after a woman was killed by a drunk driver who was leaving a bar during happy hour. The state believes that happy hour encourages excessive drinking and leads to drunk driving.

HAPPY HOURS HAVE BEEN BANNED SINCE:
ALTHOUGH IT'S BANNED THERE: Happy hour is illegal in Vermont, but establishments are allowed to offer drink specials during designated times like “Wine Wednesdays” or “Thirsty Thursdays."

HAPPY HOURS HAVE BEEN BANNED SINCE: 1989
WHY IT'S BANNED THERE: The state believes that happy hour encourages excessive drinking and leads to drunk driving.