, All the Places Where Happy Hour Is Illegal in the U.S. [MAP]

Oh, happy hour. When a burger and a beer only costs $12 in an expensive place like Manhattan, one can’t help but feel like they’re getting away with something. It’s a beautiful thing.

What began as a booze-less social hour for the U.S. Navy in 1914 has evolved into a staple of American drinking and dining culture. It was around the ‘70s when it truly became synonymous with $2 Margaritas and half-priced apps. Ever since, it’s been a sure-fire way to curb the dinner rush, bring in new customers, and keep them coming back. Plus, a good chunk of the working world ends their day around 5 or 6 o’clock: that’s a little early for dinner, but not too early to grab a cheap pint and crush a plate of oysters.

But with discounted drinks and a limited window of time to drink them, happy hour can easily fill a bar with drunk patrons. That’s why in 1984, Massachusetts infamously became the first state to ban happy hour.

Over the years, a number of other states have followed suit to keep overconsumption at bay. Many states have put limits on when exactly happy hour can take place, as well as how inexpensive the deals can be. For example, in 2022, New York State liquor laws put the kibosh on a West Village bar’s 25-cent Martini special. The more risk-averse states out there seem to have good intentions at heart, but that doesn’t take away from the hard truth: Happy hour

This Article was originally published on VinePair

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