Vermont · VT · Food & drink
Vermont: Are happy hour drink specials legal?
Happy hour banned
Vermont bars and restaurants may not offer reduced drink prices for part of the day, though lower prices for a full day are allowed.
A Vermont liquor regulation bars first- and third-class licensees (bars and restaurants) from offering alcohol at reduced prices for any period during legal hours. Lower prices for a full business day are allowed, as are banquet pricing for private groups and cover charges or price changes during live entertainment. Free drinks and promotions that encourage rapid drinking are also banned.
What the law says
First and/or Third-class licensees shall not offer alcohol beverages at reduced prices for any period of time during daily legal hours.
Sources
- Vt. Code R. 26 020 001, General Regulation 43 Mirror of official text · law.cornell.edu
- Vermont Division of Liquor Control: Regulations Official · liquorcontrol.vermont.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Vermont Department of Liquor and Lottery, Division of Liquor Control
- Phone
- 802-828-2339
- Website
- liquorcontrol.vermont.gov
How bordering states compare
- Massachusetts Happy hour bannedMassachusetts bans happy hours: bars must charge the same drink price all week.
- 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.