FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE)— A new law that ends Indiana’s ban on “Happy Hour” went into effect on July 1.
House Bill 1086 revokes the Indiana General Assembly’s 1985 decision to ban Happy Hours and allows bars and restaurants to offer hourly discounts on alcohol sales. Before Monday, Hoosier businesses were only able to offer daily specials.
“We’re really grateful that we’re catching up with the times,” Chandler Vanous, Beverage Director at Copper Spoon, said. “It’s overdue, for sure. It’s just nice to use whatever we can to help our local businesses.”
According to Preston Wallace, the co-founder and owner of Be Better Hospitality, allowing Happy Hour in the Hoosier state once again will benefit the hospitality sector. The idea behind Happy Hour is to offer deals during typically slow hours, with the hopes of boosting foot traffic during those windows.
“I think it’s going to have a huge impact to be honest,” Wallace said. “My hope is that most of the businesses in the surrounding area are going to really continue to pour into this [and] investigate some new avenues and opportunities.”
The goal of the 1985 ban was to try and reduce crashes caused by drunk driving. Wallace said he doesn’t believe ending the ban will result in a risk to public safety.
“Please drink responsibly,” Wallace said. “Business operators and vendors: make sure you’re serving responsibly.”
The bill also allows businesses to offer a carryout option for alcoholic beverages in “sealed, nonoriginal containers.”
Roll Out the Barrel!
House Bill 1086 revokes the Indiana General Assembly’s 1985 decision to ban Happy Hours and allows bars and restaurants to offer hourly discounts on alcohol sales. Before Monday, Hoosier businesses were only able to offer daily specials.
“We’re really grateful that we’re catching up with the times,” Chandler Vanous, Beverage Director at Copper Spoon, said. “It’s overdue, for sure. It’s just nice to use whatever we can to help our local businesses.”
According to Preston Wallace, the co-founder and owner of Be Better Hospitality, allowing Happy Hour in the Hoosier state once again will benefit the hospitality sector. The idea behind Happy Hour is to offer deals during typically slow hours, with the hopes of boosting foot traffic during those windows.
“I think it’s going to have a huge impact to be honest,” Wallace said. “My hope is that most of the businesses in the surrounding area are going to really continue to pour into this [and] investigate some new avenues and opportunities.”
The goal of the 1985 ban was to try and reduce crashes caused by drunk driving. Wallace said he doesn’t believe ending the ban will result in a risk to public safety.
“Please drink responsibly,” Wallace said. “Business operators and vendors: make sure you’re serving responsibly.”
The bill also allows businesses to offer a carryout option for alcoholic beverages in “sealed, nonoriginal containers.”
Roll Out the Barrel!
