New Law Brings Happy Hour Back To Illinois Bars — In Moderation

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What time is it in Illinois? It’s Happy Hour: Fans of after-work drink deals will surely be rejoicing in Illinois, where the governor just signed a law making happy hour legal again in the state — to a certain point.

Illinoisans have been waiting since 1989 to once again convene at bars at that special space between after-work drinks and a committed night on the town, ever since happy hour drink specials were banned under state law.

Gov. Bruce Rauner signed The Culinary and Hospitality Modernization Act (SB 398) on Wednesday, with the law becoming effective immediately. The bill passed the House on May 28 and the Senate shortly after, on May 31, allowing discounts for up to four hours per day and up to 15 hours a week, as long as those specials are advertised a week in advance and don’t continue after 10 p.m.

Volume specials are still prohibited, the state’s FAQ [PDF]on the new law notes, so no “two-for-one” drink deals for one person and no “all you can drink” promotions. Happy Hour Law also says establishments serving alcohol can’t increase the volume of alcoholic liquor in a drink, or the size of the drink, without proportionally increasing the price regularly charged for that drink on that given day.

And though happy hour often brings to mind discounted drinks during a certain time period, the new law says prices can’t be reduced or fluctuate throughout a business’ normal operating hours and everyone has to get the same prices — so no Brand X beer for half price just for the ladies between 5-7 p.m, for example.

A bar could have an all-day discount on that beer for all customers, as long as it promoted the new price a week ahead of time.

So what kind of discounts or deals can customers expect to see during those four hours per day? Bucket promotions, which also includes selling pitchers of alcohol, as long as it’s delivered to two or more people, and as long as it’s offered all day to everyone (No Ladies’ Night promos, for example); offering free food or entertainment along with drink purchases; including drinks as part of a meal package; and increasing drink prices instead of charging a cover fee to offset the cost of special entertainment that’s not regularly scheduled.

by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist