Massachusetts: Are happy hour drink specials legal?
Massachusetts bans happy hours: bars must charge the same drink price all week.
Under state alcohol rules, a bar or restaurant can't sell a drink for less than its regular price that calendar week, except at private functions not open to the public. Lower prices must last the whole week. The same rule bans free drinks, unlimited drinks for a set price, serving more than two drinks to one person at a time, and drinking games, and it bans advertising any of these practices.
Conditions
- Drink prices must stay the same for the whole calendar week
- Exception for private functions not open to the public
What the law says
No licensee or employee or agent of a licensee shall: ... (c) sell, offer to sell or deliver to any person or group of persons any drinks at a price less than the price regularly charged for such drinks during the same calendar week, except at private functions not open to the public;
Sources
- 204 CMR 4.03 (Cornell LII) Mirror of official text · law.cornell.edu
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission
- Website
- mass.gov
How bordering states compare
- Connecticut Allowed with limitsConnecticut allows drink specials but bans unlimited drinks for a fixed price and serving more than one drink at a time.
- New Hampshire Allowed with limitsNew Hampshire allows reduced-price drinks but requires food during promotions and bans free drinks.
- New York Allowed with limitsNew York allows happy hours but bans unlimited drinks for a fixed price and free or multiple-drinks-for-one-price deals.
- Rhode Island Happy hour bannedRhode Island bans happy hours; bars may offer only 'daily specials' with one fixed price for the whole day.
- Vermont Happy hour bannedVermont bars and restaurants may not offer reduced drink prices for part of the day, though lower prices for a full day are allowed.
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