Happy hours, killjoys and the law
In a letter to a leading star-class hotel in Colombo, the Chairman of Sri Lanka’s National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) informed a Colombo 5-star hotel in writing, that NATA had received several complaints regarding hotels with liquor licenses offering discounts on the purchase of alcohol products, such as "Happy Hour" promotions.
What was NATA doing for nearly two decades, for its chairman to suddenly wake up and prohibit hotels from offering any discounts on alcohol purchases, including “Happy Hour” promotions that offer both drinks and food, by deeming it a punishable offense. Were these guys living under a rock all this time and like Rip Van Winkle… only just woke up from a deep slumber? What would these killjoys do next? Ban TGI Fridays?
What happens should hotels decide to increase the price of food and bites and include free drinks with it, during the ‘happy hour/s promotion? Would that be breaking any law? I guess not, because there is no mention of casinos with liquor licenses, providing free alcoholic beverages (and food), as breaking the law.
‘Happy Hour’ (HH): is a carefree catch phrase that livens up one’s day in our stressful lives. Used to describe that intoxicating hour (or hours) of beverages, cocktails and small bites which typically takes place between sunset and the start of dinner, it is for many, the best part of the work-ending weekday.
One must remember though, that, over the years, the ‘HH’ concept has tangled with the law, especially in the US, where it is supposed to have originated from. In 1984, Massachusetts banned it. Other states followed, but most have since reversed such legislation. The ban was largely due to health and safety concerns. Lately, both Kansas and Illinois which banned it for over 20 years came to their senses in 2012 and 2015, respectively.
Pennsylvania, on the other hand, felt that an hour of happiness wasn’t enough and in 2011 extended the acceptable time span for HH’s from two to four hours. There are though, some states, such as Alaska, Indiana and Massachusetts that are holding firm on their convictions, claiming that HH deals increase the likelihood of drunk driving and other alcohol related issues.
Going back further in US history: By the 1920’s, the country was swept up in a wave of laws meant to curb, if not eliminate entirely – the consumption of alcohol. During this time, New York introduced ‘Raines Law’, which stated that only establishments with a certain number of rooms could serve alcohol. The law was passed with the intention of cutting down on the number of wide-spread bars that had suddenly sprouted, and with it the (usually poor) drunks, not least of all rising prostitution. The move back fired when every trashy bar, hastily put up low cost thin walls and cheap bedding, declaring themselves as a hotel. Others added the ruse of introducing mocktails infused with the taste of horrible toxic illegal liquor (moonshine).
Ilzaf Keefahs is a freelance writer who enjoys focusing on hospitality related matters that he is passionate about, and likes to share his views with hoteliers and customers alike. He delves into the heart of hospitality to figure out both customer service and consumer trends that impact the industry
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