Happy Hour Drink Specials Returning to Illinois

Happy Hour drink specials, banned in 1989 by state lawmakers, should soon return to Illinois. The state senate on Sunday approved a bill that once again legalizes these drink specials with the hope of giving bar owners a boost to business. The House passed the bill last week. Now all it needs is Gov. Bruce Rauner's signature.

Before the passage of the bill, bars were allowed to offer daily drink specials — for example $3 domestic pints on Mondays. However, any specials that lasted for only part of that day were illegal. So, no $1 off Appletinis from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., for example. Under the law, while workers living in Illinois would often go out together for drinks, they'd never really enjoy a true happy hour. 

The Culinary and Hospitality Modernization Act (SB398) lifts that restriction, allowing bars to post specials for a maximum of four hours a day or 15 hours per week. The specials can't be created on a whim; they must be posted seven days prior. Specials also can't happen after 10 p.m.