Happy Hour Law: applicable during ALL hours of operation

              HAPPY HOUR LAW
Applicable during ALL hours of operation
The Happy Hour
Law ALLOWS the
following:
❍ Selling pitchers (or
the equivalent,
including but not
limited to buckets,
carafes or bottles) of
alcohol, customarily
sold in that manner
and delivered to 2 or
more persons.
❍ Offering free food or
entertainment.
❍ Including drinks as
part of a meal
package.
❍ Increasing drink prices
in lieu of cover charge
to offset the cost of
special entertainment
not regularly
scheduled.
The Happy Hour Law PROHIBITS the following:
❍ Serving two or more drinks to one person for consumption by that person
(exception for wine by the bottle or carafe).
Promotions such as: 2-for-1 drinks, or any type of promotion which discounts
drinks at a 2-for-1 or greater (3-1, etc.) price, are prohibited.
❍ Serving an unlimited number of drinks during a set period of time for a
fixed price (the exception is for private functions* not open to the public).
Promotions such as:“$5 all you can drink;” “$5 unlimited beer from 5:00 to
7:00 pm;” etc., promotions are prohibited.
❍ Reducing or fluctuating prices during the licensed premises’ normal
operation hours (from opening until closing). Prices must be the same for
all customers, for all purchases for the whole day.
Promotions such as: “Brand ‘X’ beer is $1.50 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm;” “Monday
is Ladies’ Night — All Drinks for Women are $1” specials are prohibited.
❍ Increasing the volume of alcoholic liquor contained in a drink or the size
of a drink, without proportionally increasing the price regularly charged
for that drink on that given day — this applies to mixed drinks.
For promotions such as: Mixed Drinks — “Double the shot in your drink for 25¢
more” is prohibited.
❍ Any game or contest which involves drinking alcoholic liquor or awards
drinks as prizes.
For example: Anyone drinking four shots of liquor within ten minutes gets a free
t-shirt, is not allowed.
❍ Advertising, on or off premises, any of the practices prohibited by this law.
*Private Function (defined per 235 ILCS 5/1-3.36), means a prearranged private party,
function or event for a specific social or business occasion, either by invitation or reservation
and not open to the general public, where the guests in attendance are served in a room or
rooms designated and used exclusively for the private party, function or event.
Illinois Liquor Control
Commission