"Happy Hour" Thoughts

The Women’s Perspective: Is Massachusetts ready to gamble on bringing back Happy Hour?
By Gretchen Jones GateHouse News Service


Pembroke — Last month the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a bill, which will bring three "resort" casinos to our Commonwealth. An overwhelming vote of 123-32 voted to bring slot machines and Los Vegas style table games our way. The senate also added an adjoining proposal to the Gambling Bill that could reinstate "Happy Hour" back to Massachusetts after being abolished nearly 27 years ago. This decision has led many folks to speak out about the possibility of Happy Hour coming back our way. I thought after considering the subject, I’d conduct a random survey regarding the issue and see what people had to say.

I would like to revisit an article I wrote in the summer of 2010 in regards to Happy Hour and drunk driving. Pembroke native Erin Woods-Brenton and her family experienced an unthinkable tragedy and loss at the hands of a 17-year-old drunk driver. In 1982 while Erin and her 6-year-old sister, Heather were delivering camp fire items on Birch Street in Pembroke they were both struck by an 17-year-old drunk driver. This avoidable accident took the life of younger sister, Heather while leaving Erin with significant left leg and head trauma injuries that would take many years to overcome.

Throughout that difficult time Erin credits her parents Charles and Patricia for giving her the strength and courage to fight back and regain a new lease on life. Her father, Charles went on to become one to the founding members of the Plymouth Chapter of Mother's Against Drunk Driving (MADD); as well as being a powerhouse in changing the Massachusetts alcohol laws and regulations in the 1980's. He played a significant role in changing the legal drinking age from 18 yrs. old to 21 yrs. old and helped abolish Happy Hour throughout our commonwealth.

The question to reinstate Happy Hour to Massachusetts is haunting to not only the Woods family but to many other family's who have suffered the loss of a loved one by the hands of a drunk driver.

The question remains are we living in a society that can bring back Happy Hour responsibly? Or are we just setting ourselves up for failure? Are we ready to Gamble away innocent lives to create "an even playing field" for casino's, restaurants and bars in Massachusetts? We will have to see where the roulette wheel lands on this decision whether or not to bring Happy Hour back to Massachusetts. Personally, I am not convinced that this is a gamble our state needs to make.