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Cutting the Red Tape from Happy Hour in Virginia
By Nick Sibilla, Institute of Justice
December 7, 2012, The Washington Post
America is in crisis. A $16 trillion debt. Unemployment malingering around 8 percent. The looming fiscal cliff. The existence of “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.” It’s enough to drive anyone to drink. And given the recession, it’s never been more important to pinch pennies when going out.
Unfortunately, thanks to Virginia’s archaic laws, it’s illegal for bars to advertise happy hours.
While happy hours are legal, Virginia is one of only a handful of states that ban ads for them. Needless to say, that makes it harder for bars and restaurants to compete and let customers know about discounted drinks.
The law is exceptionally silly for Northern Virginia, since D.C. bars are just a few Metro stops away. Any establishment guilty of “illegal advertising of happy hour” could get its license suspended for a week and be slapped with a $500 fine.
