Everything about Happy Hour totally explained
Happy hour is a period of
time in the late afternoons Monday through Thursday, and sometimes Friday (usually taking place between 4 pm and 7 pm —
rush hour for many workers) during which some
restaurants and bars give
discounts for
drinks, especially
alcoholic drinks. The idea is that it acts as a promotion of the venue during the quieter times.
The term originated in the
United States Navy. In the 1920s, “happy hour” was for on-ship performances. “Happy” in this context meant slightly drunk.
The idea of drinking before dinner has its roots in the
Prohibition era. When the
18th Amendment and the
Volstead Act were passed banning alcohol consumption, citizens would host “
cocktail hours” or “happy hours” at a
speakeasy — underground drinking establishments — before eating at restaurants where alcohol couldn't be served.
Cocktail lounges continued the trend of drinking before dinner. "Happy hour" entered civilian use around 1960, especially after a
Saturday Evening Post article in 1959. Happy hour has become a tradition for many workers, white and blue collar alike.
The push against drunk driving and alcohol abuse has curtailed the use of the happy hour to some extent. In the 1980s, bars started providing free
hors d'oeuvres to lower the
blood alcohol content of patrons.
Glasgow has banned happy hours to reduce
binge drinking, as has the
Republic of Ireland. Even the U.S. military got in the act, when in 1984 they abolished happy hours at military base clubs.
Despite the controversy, happy hour still exists around the globe. Today in the United States, "Happy Hour" culture consists largely of junior and mid-level professionals getting together for a drink to unwind after work. In the United Kingdom, the cocktail hour serves a similar purpose, but traditionally begins at 5pm and ends an hour later.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Happy Hour'.
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