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Happy Hour Banned? 7 US States Still Outlaw After-Work Drink Specials
Happy hours are sacred rituals for many American workers, but a handful of states continue to ban them. Many of these bans began in the 1980s as a response to drunk driving.
Here are seven states in which happy hours are outlawed.
- Massachusetts: The Bay State was one of the first U.S. states to ban happy hours. State law forbids free or discounted drinks, including two-for-one offers.
- Alaska: Alaska law prohibits the sale of alcohol for "less than the price regularly charged for the beverages during the same calendar week," according to the Alaska State Legislature's website.
- Rhode Island: The ban originated in 1985 due to concerns about drunk driving, according to Rhode Island Monthly.
- Utah: Unlike other states, Utah didn't pass its happy hour ban until 2011.
- Vermont: The Vermont Brewers Association (VBA) notes that happy hours are currently banned in the Green Mountain State.
- North Carolina: North Carolina passed its ban in 1985, but its restrictions remain looser than most.
- Oklahoma: The Sooner State also follows a model similar to North Carolina's ban. Bars can't sell free or below-cost drinks, per the Oklahoma Restaurant Association, and specials must remain at least 6% above cost.
Link: https://www.foxnews.com/