About Happy Hour

Questions and Answers

Q. Can a retail licensee offer a 2-drink-for-the-price-of-1 promotion?

A. NO. However, retail establishments may offer products at half price, as long as the price for that product or products is charged the whole day. Further, a retailer may highlight a product by discounting the regular price, as long as the discounted price is offered all day to all persons.

Q. Can a retail licensee offer promotions such as: $5 all you can drink from 5:00 to 7:00?

A. NO. Offering unlimited drinks for a fixed price is prohibited. The only exception is for a private function not open to the public; i.e., Weddings, Christmas Parties, etc.
(see Happy Hour Laws)

Q. Can a retail licensee change the price of alcoholic drinks during a given day?

A. NO. However, the retail licensee can change the price of the product(s) from one day to the next. A "day" is defined as from the time the licensee is allowed to open, until the time the licensee must close.

Q. Can a retail licensee give away drinks as prizes to a game or contest held on the premise?

A. NO. Drinks may not be awarded as prizes and games cannot involve alcohol consumption.

Q. Can a retail licensee increase the volume of alcohol contained in a drink or the size of a drink?

A. YES. However, the price of the drink must also be increased to reflect the added alcohol.

Q. Can a retailer offer "bucket" promotions, such as 6 long neck bottles for $6?

A. YES. As long as the promotion (price of the "bucket")is offered all day to everyone.

Q. Can a retail licensee sell a "shot and a beer"?

A. YES. "Boilermakers" are considered to be one drink.

Q. Can I charge one price for a drink in the restaurant and a different price in the adjoining lounge?

A. YES. Multi-use establishments may charge different prices in different rooms, provided the prices remain the same all day, and a separate price schedule is kept for each room.

Q. What is the penalty for violating this law?

A. Violation of this law is a "Class B" Misdemeanor. The licensee may be FINED or have its license SUSPENDED or REVOKED.

All documents available for download on this system are in Portable Document Format (PDF) and require the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view.

Download about...Happy Hour Laws

(235 ILCS 5/6-28) The Happy Hour Law
Happy Hour Law (Easy to understand)

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