HomeHappy Hour Laws


Will I be able to offer "happy hour" specials by temporarily reducing the price of drinks at my establishment?

    Yes. Public Act 99-0046 which went into effect on July 15, 2015 permits licensees to offer discounted drinks for up to 4 hours per day, and not more than 15 hours per week.  The specified drink promotional period does not have to be for 4 consecutive hours.

What are the additional rules and restrictions on price reductions?

    Licensees must adhere to the following stipulations on price reductions on drinks:

• Licensee must give notice of the discount of alcohol drinks on the licensee's premises or on their website 7 days prior to the specified drink promotion period.
• Licensee shall not offer a specified drink promotion period between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and the licensed premise's closing hour.
• Licensee shall not change the price of an alcoholic drink during a single drink promotion period.

When can I start reducing prices as part of happy hour?

    No earlier than 7 days after the license holder has given notice of the discount of alcoholic drinks at its licensed location or on its website.

Can I provide unlimited drinks for a single price?

    No. Drink limits are required unless the drinks are part of a meal / party package or private function.

Am I allowed to sell "meal packages" with food and alcohol? What does that entail?

    Yes. "Meal package" means a food and beverage package, which may or may not include entertainment, where the service of alcoholic liquor is an accompaniment to the food, including, but not limited to: a meal, tour, tasting, or any combination thereof for a fixed price by a retail licensee or any other licensee operating within a sports facility, restaurant, winery, brewery, or distillery.

Is there a limit to the number of drinks which may be served with a meal package?

    No. There is no limit to the number of drinks included with a meal package.

What is considered "food" for purposes of a meal package?

    Any food, including snacks and other so-called "finger food," that is available on the licensed premises as long as the food and alcoholic drinks are sold as a package for a fixed price.

Am I allowed to sell "party packages," such as wristband deals for a private event? What are the regulations?

    YES. "Party package" means a private party, function, or event for a specific social or business occasion, either arranged by invitation or reservation for a defined number of individuals, that is not open to the general public and where the attendees are served both food and alcohol for a fixed price in a DEDICATED EVENT space. In order to sell a party package, a business must:

• Offer food in the dedicated event space.
• Limit the party package to no more than 3 hours.
• Distribute wristbands, lanyards, or shirts that designate party package attendees.
• Exclude individuals not participating in the party package from the dedicated event space.

Is there a limit on the number of drinks which may be served with a party package?

    No. There is no limit to the number of drinks allowed to be included with a party package.

What is considered "food" for purposes of a party package?

    Any food, including snacks and other so-called "finger food," that is available on the licensed premises.

Private functions as defined in the Liquor Control Act have always been an exception to the prohibition on unlimited drinks; are private functions now limited to 3 hours?

    No. Private functions such as weddings, private parties, fund-raising functions, etc., where "guests in attendance are served in a room or rooms designated and used exclusively for the private party, function or event" (235 ILCS 5/1-3.36) are not subject to a time limit.

How can alcoholic drinks be sold and served to a customer?

1. You may serve two or more drinks to one customer at one time;
2. You may not sell two or more drinks for the price of one drink;
3. You must increase the price of a drink proportionately to an increase in the volume of the same drink.
   
   Example: The price of a 24 ounce draft of Brand X beer must cost twice as much as a 12 ounce draft of Brand X beer.

Can I sell or serve a pitcher, bottle, carafe, bucket, flight, or similar container to one person?

    Yes.

How does proportionate pricing apply to prices of a pitcher, bottle, carafe, bucket, flight, or similar container?

    Proportionate pricing applies to individual drinks, not to pitchers, bottles, carafes, buckets, flight or similar containers. As long as a price reduction is not equal to selling 2 or more alcoholic drinks for the price of one, a retailer is free to set any price for a pitcher, bottle, carafe, bucket, flight or similar container.

Can I permit or encourage drinking games or contests at my licensed premises?

    No.

Can I still offer daily drink specials?