Pennsylvania: Are happy hour drink specials legal?
Pennsylvania allows happy hours of up to four hours a day and 24 hours a week, with no discounts after midnight.
State law lets licensees discount drinks for up to four hours a day and 24 hours a week. No discounts are allowed between midnight and closing time. Happy hours must be posted on the premises seven days ahead, and the Liquor Control Board's other discount pricing rules still apply. A 2024 amendment set the current limits.
Conditions
- Up to 4 hours per day and 24 hours per week
- No discounts from midnight to closing
- Post happy hours on premises 7 days in advance
- Must follow 40 Pa. Code § 13.102 discount pricing rules
What the law says
Notwithstanding any other provision of law or regulation and except as otherwise provided, the holder of a retail license may hold happy hours up to four consecutive or nonconsecutive hours per day and up to twenty-four hours per week during which the holder discounts the price of alcoholic beverages and food and alcoholic beverage combinations. Discounts may include food and drink combination specials for no more than two combinations on any day. No discounts may be given between the hours of midnight and the legal closing time. Notice of all happy hours shall be visibly posted on the licensed premises seven days prior to the happy hour.
Sources
- Pennsylvania Liquor Code § 406(g), 47 P.S. § 4-406(g) Official · palegis.us
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, Licensing Information Center
- Phone
- (717) 783-8250
- Website
- pa.gov
How bordering states compare
- Delaware Allowed with limitsDelaware allows happy hours but bans two-for-one drinks, unlimited drinks for a set price, below-cost sales, and free drinks.
- Maryland Allowed with limitsMaryland allows drink specials, but bars may not require a customer to buy more than one drink at a time.
- New Jersey Allowed with limitsNew Jersey allows drink specials but bans unlimited drinks for a set price and prepaid multi-drink deals.
- 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.
- Ohio Allowed with limitsOhio allows happy hours before 9 p.m. but bans late-night discounts, two-for-one deals, and unlimited drinks for a fixed price.
- West Virginia AllowedWest Virginia law has no rule against happy hours or drink specials, and licensees may advertise drink prices.
All 50 states for this question · Other topics in Pennsylvania