Why Is Happy Hour Illegal in Alaska, Utah and Massachusetts?

I know Utah is very strict and their booze % level is lower than other states. I think it's for religious reason.

Utah -- obvious Mormon reasons

Massachusetts -- all those Irish already get blotto easily enough. They don't need to be encouraged by cheaper $price$

Alaska -- their cities have major violence problems not helped by being plunged in darkness for half of the year.

So that they don't sanction drinking and driving.

Wayment? So Cheers was a farce?

To avoid another Karen Read trial.

Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

There are workarounds in the Bay State.

Massachusetts is probably because this stuff is still left over on the books from its Puritan roots. It took them till the ‘80s to get rid of Sunday “ blue laws” after all.

For all the complaining people do about CA over regulation, that doesn’t occur with alcohol. As a result, booze is cheaper in CA, you can buy a bottle of whiskey at CVS, and you can go to a dive bar at 6am on a Sunday! Enjoy!

It's illegal here in BC as well.

Massachusetts is definitely some Puritan anti-witchcraft shit.

what about ladies night? Has that been banned as well?

We had happy hours here in Mass but they were taken away by the legislator.

It was the MADD movement (now called Karens) that got it killed.

Reinstatement comes up every year. Lord knows how Ray Flynn and Bill Weld didn't manage to get it done.

Because people are not permitted to be happy in those states, OP.

In Massachusetts, discounting drinks during certain hours was outlawed after a rash of drunk driving accidents in the ‘80s. Bars get around it by discount-pricing certain cocktails all the time and only promoting the discounts during “happy hour.” Also dollar tapas/dollar oysters are very popular. Bars are filled after work regardless.

There’s little political will to reinstate Happy Hour because bars and restaurants operate on very thing margins as it is, and they’re relieved to not have to discount their inventory to cater to a clientele who wants to drink in order to get drunk.

Also, have you been to a Happy Hour in New York lately? They proudly discount their cocktails to *just* $15.

*very THIN margins

[quote]Massachusetts is definitely some Puritan anti-witchcraft shit.

I think the no Happy Hour laws are from the 1980s. No "Ladies Drink Free" specials allowed either. Results in fewer rapes, I guess.

I'm assuming Alaska does this in an attempt to mitigate the alcohol issues they have, especially within the Native American community. My brother lived and worked a few summers near Fairbanks at a cabin resort owned by a lesbian couple when he was in his twenties, and spent a lot of time there and in Anchorage. He described to me how it's commonplace to see people passed out on the streets in Anchorage. It's especially dangerous during the cold months because people will get shitcanned at bars, pass out outside, and then freeze to death. Alcohol plus the extreme climate can be a dangerous combination.

Alaska can blame this woman….

Sarah Palin, when she was Mayor of Wasilla, AK…allowed bars to stay open until 5am, and wanted to allow guns as well.