Happy Hour in the USA: Not All States Are Created Equal

Bellingham Defense Attorney, DUI, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Studies, Whatcom County Criminal Defense, , ,

 

Believe it or not, many U.S. States have banned Happy Hours.

A recent article from http:www.cityab.com reviewed the 25 biggest metropolises in the U.S. to map where you can grab a cheap post-work brew and where you can’t. Some information is provided in the photo above.

According to CityLab, the reason why the laws are so different in many cities is because many bans were implemented in the 1980s when citizen groups led by Mothers Against Drunk Driving teamed up with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and presented state legislatures with Statistical Analysis of Alcohol-Related Driving Trends from 1982-2005. The statistics show that in 1982, for instance, more than half of the country’s fatal crashes involved at least one driver with a blood alcohol level of .08—the legal limit.

Additionally, in 1984, the same year Massachusetts passed its anti-happy hour law, President Ronald Reagan declared the first National Drunk and Drugged Driving Awareness Week, and Congress passed the National Minimum Drinking Age Act, which effectively set the federal drinking age to 21.

These stories share a common truth: basically, the variability in cities’ happy hour laws can be chalked up to local politics and general sentiments about drinking.

The “No Happy Hour Restrictions” states are marked in green. Cities include Denver Colorado, Washington D.C. and Jacksonville, Florida. The “Happy Hour Restricted” states are marked in red. They include Boston, Minneapolis and Charlotte, South Carolina.

Some interesting states bear mention. Purple states allow happy hours to happen, but with restrictions: they can only take place at certain times of day, at certain price levels, and in certain quantities. In Austin, for instance, purveyors are compelled to close up happy hour shop at 11 p.m. California establishments can’t sell two drinks for the price of one. In New York, bars can’t offer beers at less than half their normal price. In Pennsylvania, you can only have two hours of happiness per day, and not between midnight and closing time. Interesting.

Please contact my office if you, a friend or family member are charged with DUI or any other crime. Hiring an effective and competent defense attorney is the first and best step toward justice.