Happy hour

From ArticleWorld

Happy hour is the time of a day set aside in most bars or restaurants when alcoholic beverages are sold for a percentage off the regular price. In most places that percentage off is 50% of the regular cost of a drink.

The term happy hour meant something other than drinking before dinner when the term was first used. The term first originated in the 1920s and the phrase was slang for a Navy on-ship performance. The real definition of the term means slightly drunk.

The term happy hour then was used during the time of the Prohibition Era (starting form approximately 1917 to 1933, with some areas still prohibiting alcohol until approximately 1966). This was the time in the United State when alcohol was not allowed to be served in most places. Therefore, most people would go to a secret place where they would drink before dinner and then go out to eat. These secret places were often referred to as a speakeasy, which was an underground drinking establishment.

Now that the time of the Prohibition Era has passed, happy hour has been incorporated into some of the finest gourmet restaurants and banquet halls in most places throughout the United States. Of course, happy hours take place in most places all over the world as well.

Usually the time of the day that happy hour ranges any two hour time period between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., meaning sometimes happy hour may be from 4 to 6 p.m. or from 5 to 7 p.m. In some cases happy hour can be as early as 3 in the afternoon. Another alternative happy hour is from 10 p.m. until midnight.

Happy hour vs. cocktail hour

Another name for a before dinner drink gathering is called cocktail hour which usually takes place before most wedding receptions or business meetings. However, cocktail hour is a little different than happy hour because the drinks are not always 50% off. It depends on the place and where the even takes place, and who is in charge of the liquor establishment.

Purpose of happy hours

The purpose of happy hours is to encourage more customers to enter a liquor establishment, bar and grill, or chain restaurant at times when business is the slowest. Usually this helps quite a bit and fills up an establishment during a time when a person usually is not interested in eating a huge meal. It is also usually a great time for those who have a limited budget and want to drink for half the price.