Virginia · VA · Food & drink
Virginia: Are happy hour drink specials legal?
Allowed with limits
Virginia 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.
Virginia ABC rules let licensees run happy hours with reduced drink prices, but not between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m. Two-for-one deals and unlimited drinks for one price are banned. Since 2019, licensees may advertise happy hours as long as the ads don't appeal to minors or encourage drinking to excess. Private events in a separate room are exempt.
Conditions
- No happy hour from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.
- No two-for-one or multiple drinks for one price
- No unlimited drinks for one price
- Advertising may not target minors or encourage overconsumption
What the law says
Conducting a happy hour between 9 p.m. of each day and 2 a.m. of the following day;
Sources
- 3VAC5-50-160 Official · law.lis.virginia.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority
- Website
- abc.virginia.gov
How bordering states compare
- Kentucky Allowed with limitsKentucky has no happy hour ban, but retailers can't offer coupons on alcohol, give drinks away, or sell below cost.
- Maryland Allowed with limitsMaryland allows drink specials, but bars may not require a customer to buy more than one drink at a time.
- North Carolina Happy hour bannedNorth Carolina bans happy hour drink pricing; a drink discount must last a full business day and apply to every customer.
- Tennessee AllowedTennessee lets bars discount drinks as they see fit, as long as the price doesn't go below their cost.
- West Virginia AllowedWest Virginia law has no rule against happy hours or drink specials, and licensees may advertise drink prices.