Happy hour in Indiana could be making a comeback
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — There’s a chance happy hour could make a comeback in Indiana.
Lawmakers are looking at lifting the state’s happy hour ban, which keeps bars and restaurants from offering drink specials during certain times of day.
Bars and restaurants can now offer drink specials all day, but they can’t offer discounts on drinks during after-work hours — typical for happy hours in other states. The happy hour ban has been in place since the 1980’s, but now Republican Representative Tom Dermody wants to change that.
The idea behind the ban is to keep people from drinking too much, during the limited time while the drinks are cheaper. Lawmakers had hoped to cut down on drunk-driving and other alcohol-related accidents.
According to TIME, Indiana is one of eight states with a happy hour ban. Illinois just lifted its ban last year.
24-Hour News 8 talked to the general manager at Louie’s Wine Dive who said having a happy hour wouldn’t change how much her bartenders serve customers, especially since as the law stands bars can already serve drink specials all day.
“We’re always concerned about over-serving and making sure that everyone is celebrating responsibly, so…there’s not a time of day where we’re not going to be concerned about that. So, I don’t really understand how a happy hour would affect that,” said Betsy Baker, Louie’s Wine Dive general manager.
Baker said out-of-state customers visiting Indianapolis ask about happy hour all the time, especially since Louie’s locations in other states offer happy hour specials.
“Indianapolis is a destination for a lot of large events, and people that have been to other Louie’s come here hoping to get the same happy hour and same familiarity with the drink specials and the menu that they have at the other location. So I would say it doesn’t affect our business as much as it deprives the guests a little bit of an experience,” said Baker.
Opponents of the ban argue it’s not about serving customers more — it’s about bringing more customers in, during a typically slow time of day. Still, supporters say they want to keep alcohol-related accidents down.
24-Hour News 8 will keep you updated on how this bill progresses throughout the session.
To read more on the bill click here.