Happy Hour, also known as “aperitif hour” is a common practice for restaurants and bars. It consists of selling alcoholic products at a reduced price during a certain period, generally between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Although the practice dates back to the late 19th century, it is particularly popular in bars today.
However, the very concept of Happy Hour is often controversial and is sometimes associated with poor spending habits and potentially dangerous behavior. Many therefore wonder why this practice only concerns alcoholic beverages.
Fortunately, non-alcoholic alternatives exist for alcohol-free Happy Hour!
The origins of Happy Hour
To better understand why Happy Hour is generally reserved for alcoholic drinks, we must look at the origin of this practice, as well as the reasons why it has remained limited to alcoholic products.
When bars first started offering discounts on certain drinks, they were mostly located in big cities and the offer was limited to alcoholic drinks. This is because alcohol is a very lucrative product for bar owners and therefore they are more likely to offer promotions on their products. It's also possible that Happy Hour was created to encourage customers to drink more during a designated time slot, which helps increase their sales.
Happy Hour to make yourself known
On the other hand, Happy Hour is a great way for restaurants and bars to advertise their services and attract customers looking to grab a happy hour drink. Owners offer discounts on certain alcoholic beverages in an effort to maintain their customer base and create appeal for their establishments. Additionally, customers may be encouraged to drink more because they receive a discount on all alcoholic products offered. Happy Hour is therefore a great way for bars and restaurants to attract more customers and increase their sales.
Additionally, laws governing alcohol consumption are often stricter than those that apply to non-alcoholic drinks. For example, in many cities in the United States, there are restrictions on what time bars must close if they want to offer alcoholic beverages. These laws do not apply to establishments that only serve non-alcoholic drinks.
Additionally, restaurants and bars must comply with regulations related to the sale and consumption of alcohol, such as prohibiting the serving of alcoholic beverages to minors. Not all of these restrictions apply to non-alcoholic drinks.
Finally, although many bars and restaurants offer discounts on alcoholic drinks during happy hour, there are establishments that diversify their offerings. These offers include discounted light meals, snacks and non-alcoholic drinks during happy hour. However, these offers remain rare. For the most part, Happy Hour is only about alcoholic beverages and plays a very important role in the sale and consumption of alcohol, especially in the United States.
When is Happy Hour for non-alcoholic drinks in bars?!
To summarize, Happy Hour, which is a common practice in bars, is often associated with alcoholic products. This is largely because alcohol is a very lucrative commodity for bar owners. Additionally, Happy Hour is a great way for restaurants and bars to increase sales and attract more customers. Finally, laws related to alcohol are often stricter than those that apply to soft drinks, which can deter bar owners from offering discounts for soft drinks. Although these offers exist, they are still rare. It is therefore very likely that this practice will remain limited to alcoholic products in bars and restaurants, but the fight continues!
