The Committee on Public Policy voted on a new bill proposing to bring happy hour back to Indiana on Jan. 23.
The House committee voted 12-1 to bring happy hour deals back to the state for Hoosiers. Indiana is one of only eight states in the country that bans all and any happy hour deals, and the proposed plan has gained mixed reactions from business owners and Indianapolis residents.
State Rep. Jake Teshka proposed House Bill 1086 (HB 1086) for restaurants to increase revenue through happy hour deals.
The bill is “aimed at helping restaurants and bars adapt to a post-covid world, which is dominated by remote work and take-out and delivery. Many of these businesses still have not returned to pre-pandemic levels of operation,” Teshka said.
HB 1086 also provides an option for customers to take to-go drinks in sealed containers, which is currently outlawed in Indiana. While the bill proposed would allow businesses to offer happy hour, it also comes with stipulations.
First, a restaurant can only have happy hour deals for four hours a day at most or 15 hours a week. Also, businesses cannot offer happy hour deals after 10 p.m.
These rules are to ensure responsible and safe drinking.
Although the bill seeks to bolster local business revenue, concerned citizens are speaking out against the bill.
The vice president of Mental Health America of Indiana (MHAI), Lisa Hutcheson, testified against the bill, claiming that happy hour deals increase high-risk drinking.
Hutcheson cited studies from the National Institute of Health (NIH), providing statistics on Indiana to show the potential dangers of happy hour.
“A 2020 NIH publication looked at twelve studies that examined the effect of drink specials in seven countries between 1978 and 2018. Of these, 11 found a consistent positive association between drink specials and increased alcohol consumption, heavy drinking and alcohol intoxication. Drink specials were also associated with expectations of higher consumption and modified attitudes and behaviors towards favorable views of drink specials,” Hutcheson said.
Hutcheson also pointed out problems involving drunk driving, which could increase with happy hour.
“In 2023 in Indiana, there were 817 deaths due to impaired driving – that is 19% of all traffic crash deaths …If the goal is to entice more customers into an establishment, why not have half-price or buy one, get one free appetizers? Or, with the current alcohol-free movement that continues to grow, why not an alcohol-free happy hour,” Hutcheson proposed.
Following a 12-1 vote in favor of the bill, it goes to the Senate for consideration.
Contact Racial Justice Reporter Garrett Simms at 317-762-7847
