FOOD HISTORY: The History Of Happy Hour

FOOD HISTORY: The History Of Happy Hour

Bloody Mary With Peppadew
[1] Among the most popular cocktails in the U.S. are the Bloody Mary (photo Bonefish Grill)


[2] The Martini (photo Ruths Chris Steak House)


[3] The Cosmopolitan (photo Inspired By Charm)

Classic Margarita
[4] The Margarita (photo Casa Noble Tequila)

Classic Daiquiri
[5] The Daiquiri (photo Tempered Spirits)and


[6] The Moscow Mule (photo Smirnoff).

November 12th is National Happy Hour Day.

If you work anywhere near a bar or lounge, youve probably seen a sign for Happy Hour.

Happy hour is a marketing term for a time when venue (such as a restaurant, bar, bowling alley, stadium, state fair, or county fair) offers discounts on alcoholic drinks.

Free appetizers and discounted menu items are often served during happy hour.

But it hasnt always been that way.

While the words happy hour have appeared for centuries to describe enjoyable times, its use to refer to a scheduled period of camaraderie is of much more recent vintage.


HAPPY HOUR WITHOUT THE BOOZE

Since at least the early 1880s, the terms Happy Hour Social, Happy Hour Club, Happy Hour Social Club and similar names, had been in use as the names of womens social clubs [source].

They did not include alcohol, nor did the Navys version.

In 1913, the crew of the U.S.S. Arkansas had started to refer to their regularly scheduled smokers as Happy Hours.

There was no alcohol allowed onboard. Instead, these Happy Hours were a weekly entertainment for bored sailors at sea.

They included boxing and wrestling matches, movies and music. By the end of World War I, these Happy Hours had spread throughout the entire Navy [source] and dr.

But alcohol was not restricted offshore, as evidenced by the Drunken Sailor song and drunk as a sailor anecdotes.

A 1959 article on military life in the Saturday Evening Post referred to those who spend too much happy hour at the bar. Other sourcesmostly from places near Naval bases in Californiarefer to this cocktail time as early as 1951.


PROHIBITION LAUNCHES THE MODERN HAPPY HOUR

It wasnt until Prohibition that Happy Hour began to mean drinking alcohol [source].

People would host cocktail hours, also known as happy hours, at a speakeasy, prior to eating at alcohol-free restaurants.

Happy Hour became a euphemism for that time.

Following Prohibition, cocktail lounges continued the trend of drinking before dinner, and the term Happy Hour continued.

In the 1960s, some bars and lounges began the promotion of discounted drinks during Happy Hours.

These took place immediately after the standard work day, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. or 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays.

A buffet of nibblespigs in blankets, mozzarella sticks, crudits, mini pizzas, etc.were usually served free, to accompany the drinks.


BANS ON HAPPY HOURS

Some Happy Hours got too happy, with resulting legislation to curtail the half-price drinking and its related car accidents.

In 1984, Massachusetts was one of the first U.S. states to implement a statewide ban on happy hours. Other states followed, including Alaska, Indiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Utah and Vermont.

The reasons for the bans included the prevention of drunk driving, the elimination of nuisance noise to neighbors, and drunken behavior in the neighborhood.

  • In 1984, the U.S. military itself abolished happy hours at military base clubs.
  • In 2011, Pennsylvania mandated the expansion of the Happy Hour period from two hours to four hours, so customers would not down too many drinks in a short period of time.
  • Some flexibility ensued: In 2012, happy hour became legal in Kansas after a 26-year ban; and in 2015, a 25-year happy hour ban ended in Illinois.


  • HOW TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL HAPPY HOUR DAY

    It may be too late for this year, but mark your calendar for next year.

  • Get a group together and head for a favorite bar or lounge.
  • If you cant think of where, just search online for Best Happy Hour.
  • Or, consider inviting friends to a Happy Hour Cocktail Party. You can make it a potluck, asking each participant to bring the ingredients to prepare their favorite cocktail.

  • For today, find a colleague or friend to join you after work at the nearest Happy Hour.

    And be happy, responsibly.


    FAVORITE COCKTAILS

    While each survey differsand preferences vary by region, age group, etc.a 2019 survey of bartenders published on MSN.com listed the 10 most popular cocktails as (in alphabetical order):

  • Aperol Spritz
  • Daiquiri
  • Dry Martini
  • Espresso Martini
  • Margarita
  • Manhattan
  • Moscow Mule
  • Negroni
  • Old Fashioned
  • Whiskey Sour
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