Legislators, anxious to pass legislation written by, for and of the Gambling Industry, included a provision to consider the repeal of the Happy Hour Prohibition for bars and restaurants, instead of eliminating FREE ALCOHOL at the proposed Slot Barns around the state. Not every state allows FREE ALCOHOL.
For the Gambling Industry, it reduces inhibitions, encourages patrons to linger longer, losing $$$, maybe even sign up for a LOAN to continue feeding the Slot Machines [most of their revenue comes from Slots].
The Happy Hour prohibition was enacted to reduce the highway bloodbath caused by drunk drivers and successfully did so.
The Legislature instead made each of us innocent targets simply to genuflect before an Industry in which + 50% of their patrons are Gambling Addicts, created by them.
Local bar managers defend happy hour prohibition at Bridgewater hearing
The owners of Abington Ale House do not want a return of happy hour, which is banned in the state.
BRIDGEWATER —
Richard Barrett called the 1970s and ’80s a “blood bath” for the bar industry in Massachusetts, a time when bar owners were seen as enemies of public safety.
The president of Barrett Restaurants in Abington told the state’s Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission on Tuesday that he didn’t want to see the state return to those days when happy hours at bars were legal and four-for-one drink specials were common.
The ABCC held at Bridgewater State University the first of five public hearings on whether to change or abandon its 28-year prohibition on bars offering drink specials.
Barrett was one of only five people who offered testimony on the subject. The eight people who attended barely populated the first few rows of the Moakley Center.
All the speakers argued against changing the state’s happy hour prohibition, which went into effect in 1984 to curb alcohol-related accidents and deaths.
However, as part of the legislation last year approving casino gambling, the state Legislature required the ABCC to conduct a study on changing or repealing its happy-hour rule, given that the new casinos will be able to give away free drinks on the gambling floor.
Ed Stewart, general manager of the Charlie Horse in West Bridgewater, said casinos and bars are two different markets.
“(Happy hours) are not going to put us on the same plane as the casinos,” he said. “What would ... would be to let the operators who qualify have a few (slot) machines.”
The ABCC will hold four other hearings through the summer and prepare a recommendation to the Legislature by June 30, 2013.
The president of Barrett Restaurants in Abington told the state’s Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission on Tuesday that he didn’t want to see the state return to those days when happy hours at bars were legal and four-for-one drink specials were common.
The ABCC held at Bridgewater State University the first of five public hearings on whether to change or abandon its 28-year prohibition on bars offering drink specials.
Barrett was one of only five people who offered testimony on the subject. The eight people who attended barely populated the first few rows of the Moakley Center.
All the speakers argued against changing the state’s happy hour prohibition, which went into effect in 1984 to curb alcohol-related accidents and deaths.
However, as part of the legislation last year approving casino gambling, the state Legislature required the ABCC to conduct a study on changing or repealing its happy-hour rule, given that the new casinos will be able to give away free drinks on the gambling floor.
Ed Stewart, general manager of the Charlie Horse in West Bridgewater, said casinos and bars are two different markets.
“(Happy hours) are not going to put us on the same plane as the casinos,” he said. “What would ... would be to let the operators who qualify have a few (slot) machines.”
The ABCC will hold four other hearings through the summer and prepare a recommendation to the Legislature by June 30, 2013.
Read more: http://www.enterprisenews.com/answerbook/abington/x2016702012/Local-bar-owners-defend-happy-hour-prohibition#ixzz1v2FsqjWi
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