This Act negates the ban on “Happy Hour” in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Happy Hour prohibitions have proven ineffective at deterring drunk driving and result in economic deadweight loss to states, businesses, and consumers. Massachusetts remains one of the last states with such a ban. This Act was composed by students at Boston College Law School and uses language from the successful repeal of as similar Happy Hour ban in Illinois in 2015. Restoring Happy Hour to the Commonwealth will support local businesses, shift patronage of bars and restaurants toward low-density hours, and benefit the public morale.

SECTION 1. Chapter 138 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 78 the following section:-

Section 79. A common victualler, or other person licensed under chapter one hundred thirty-eight, section twelve, to serve alcoholic beverages, may discount any alcoholic beverages during a specified time period if: the prices of alcoholic beverages are not changed during the time that they are discounted; alcoholic beverages are not discounted between the hours of ten o’clock postmeridian and the licensed establishment’s closing hour; and notice of the discount of the alcoholic beverages during a specified time is posted on the licensed premises or on the licensee’s publicly available website at least three days prior to the specified time. Authorized persons may advertise events permitted under this statute.