North Carolina: Are happy hour drink specials legal?
North Carolina bans happy hour drink pricing; a drink discount must last a full business day and apply to every customer.
A state ABC rule bars bars and restaurants from changing a drink's price, or giving drinks away, for less than one full business day. Discounts must go to all customers, so ladies' nights are also banned. Selling one person more than one drink at a time, or setting one price for multiple drinks, is not allowed. A 2025 bill to allow happy hours (House Bill 921) was still in committee when checked.
Conditions
- Reduced drink prices must last at least one full business day
- Discounts must be offered to all customers
- No more than one drink delivered to a patron at a time (pitchers for two or more allowed)
What the law says
(b) An on-premise permittee or his agent shall not give away a drink or sell one at a price that is different from the usual or established price charged for the drink for any period of time less than one full business day. Free or reduced drinks under this provision shall be offered to all customers, not just a segment of the population.
Sources
- 14B NCAC 15B .0223 (Happy hours regulated) Mirror of official text · law.cornell.edu
- NC ABC Commission, Happy Hours FAQs Official · abc.nc.gov
- NC General Assembly, House Bill 921 (2025-2026) status Official · ncleg.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission
- Phone
- 919-779-0700
- Website
- abc.nc.gov
How bordering states compare
- Georgia AllowedGeorgia has no state rule limiting happy hour drink prices at bars and restaurants; local rules may apply.
- South Carolina Allowed with limitsSouth Carolina allows discounted drinks only from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and bans free, below-half-price, and two-for-one drinks.
- Tennessee AllowedTennessee lets bars discount drinks as they see fit, as long as the price doesn't go below their cost.
- Virginia Allowed with limitsVirginia allows happy hours, but not between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m., and two-for-one or all-you-can-drink deals are banned.
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