State considers dropping ban on happy hour ads

[The Straight Story]

State considers dropping ban on happy hour ads

PORTLAND, Ore. – The state of Oregon is looking at loosening the rules on how and when bars can advertise their happy hours.

Happy hour in Oregon is legal but advertising it is not. Bar owners said the ban hurts them especially in the current economic environment. They said they need all the help they can get, and the Oregon Liquor Control Commission agrees: It is considering dropping a two-decade old ban on ads for discounted drinks.

The reason? The OLCC regulatory director, Linda Ignowski, said the ban is difficult to enforce, evidenced by looking at the Internet.

“Practically every Web site you go to will have a happy hour,” said Ignowski. “That's advertising outside the premises. Blogs Facebooks, how do we control that? It’s time to question where that’s valid anymore.”

“If the rule is unenforceable or somehow outdated, we're in favor of looking at the rule,” said Pete Schulberg of Oregon Partnership.

But with that said, he said the OLCC needs to consider that the ban is to prevent binge drinking.

http://www.katu.com/news/local/54040487.html

[brewens]

1. I Miss the Old happy Hours

Probably a good thing they did away with those though. At least in Idaho you can't have the two for one deals anymore. I don't drink much these days anyway.
I did really love happy hour at a Mexican restaurant we had back in the 80's. Two for one Margaritas and we had a bartender trained to sneak us Cuervo Gold in ours instead of the bar tequila. Outside seating and we would keep ordering as fast as we could and have out whole table covered with different flavors of margaritas waiting to be drank.
Slurping those down, battling brain freeze and eating free chips and salsa! That was a great way to start the weekend.
Two for one definitely encourages mass consumption of alcohol.