Why happy hour is still illegal in Mass.
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Deehan here, back with Spill of the Hill, my column unraveling Massachusetts politics.
Admit it: We've all Zoomed into a work call from a brewery once, twice or several times.
- Sometimes lawmakers do it too. At least to make a point.
Why it matters: The state senator from the Outer Cape wants to make that perk of remote work a little more affordable by restoring legal discounts on alcoholic beverages in the Bay State for the first time since the 1980s.
- Massachusetts is one of only eight states that prohibits special pricing for drinks.
State of play: Sen. Julian Cyr (D-Truro) testified at a hearing on alcohol bills virtually from Provincetown Brewing Company on Monday, marking his third attempt to overturn Massachusetts' 41-year ban on happy hour drink specials.
Cyr's legislation would allow municipalities to permit happy hour promotions during specific hours.
- There would be safeguards like no discounts after 10pm and advanced notice for promotions.
Reality check: Massachusetts probably won't see the return of happy hour any time soon because of the sway restaurant owners and package stores have on Beacon Hill.
- Those businesses, which share deep pockets and effective lobbyists, are united against happy hour. They don't want the competition that would come from drinks being discounted and fear disruption in the booze market.
- The Democrats in charge are fine with keeping the market uncompetitive if it means protecting small businesses in their districts.
Zoom in: The Massachusetts Restaurant Association's Jessica Moore warned lawmakers of "predatory pricing policies" that could force unwilling restaurants to drop prices just to keep up with competitors.
- The groups cited razor-thin margins that are already putting pressure on eateries and retailers.
Between the lines: Alcohol is restaurants' highest-margin product. Cyr and businesses, like breweries, that want to be able to discount booze say the big markups already applied to drinks mean special prices wouldn't wreck the bottom line.
- And they say attractive happy hour promotions would lure more customers in during slower business hours.
What's next: The Senate passed Cyr's measure last year, but it died in negotiations with the House.
- The same thing could happen this year unless House leaders have a big change of heart.