OR: Oregon drops archaic anti-happy hour rule

Oregon Live

By Michael Russell

June 29, 2017

The Oregon Liquor Control Commission has decided to roll back a 30-year-old ban on happy hour advertising of drink prices, a confusing, archaic rule that became all but impossible to enforce in the social media age.

In 2009, the commission reversed a wider restriction, allowing restaurants to advertise their happy hours and food prices, but leaving in place a prohibition on “advertising a reduced price or discount on alcohol that is available only during specified days or times.” At the time, the commission said they kept this regulation in place to prevent price wars that could lead to overconsumption.

Under those revised regulations, national chains such as Red Lobster or Applebee’s could get in trouble just by posting full happy hour menus to their websites. Even reciting happy hour deals to a customerover the phone could incur a warning, fine or liquor license suspension.

Some restaurant and bar owners — or the employees handling their social media accounts — seemed to be unaware that their posts were in violation of state regulation. Facebook and Instagram posts advertising discounted drinks at Portland restaurants are an everyday occurence.

“The enforcement of the happy hour rule is pretty challenging,” commission spokeswoman Christie Scott told The Oregonian/Oregonlive.com in March. “Clearly these places are still doing it.”