What is Indiana's happy hour law?

Asked by: Vidal Schneider  |  Last update: April 14, 2025
Score: 4.7/5 (28 votes)

Under the new law, bars can offer specials four hours a day, 15 hours a week, except between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. Also, there are no two-for-one or bottomless drink specials. Indiana Restaurant and Lodging Association has been working closely with businesses to make sure owners know all the guidelines.

How many hours a day can happy hour be?

Happy hour can last anywhere from one hour, up to an entire evening. Some restaurants do happy hours every night for a few hours, while others dedicate a night, like “thirsty Thursday”, to discounted drinks and appetizers.

How early can you serve alcohol in Indiana?

Sunday through Saturday, the legal hours for the dispensing of alcoholic beverages are 7:00AM to 3:00AM (IC 7.1-3-1-14). Alcoholic beverage vs.

How long do you have to stay at a work happy hour?

You can stay long enough to enjoy yourself, converse with your colleagues and have a drink or two — maybe three. However, keep in mind that leaving too soon might be detrimental — you want to stick around long enough to make an impression. Try to keep the after-work drinking at about two to three hours.

How does happy hour work?

Happy hour is a marketing term for a time when a venue such as a restaurant or bar offers reduced prices on alcoholic drinks. Discounted menu items like appetizers are often served during happy hour. This is a way for bars and restaurants to draw in more business before or after peak business hours.

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How long can an employer make you stay at work?

Your employer cannot force you to stay longer than your scheduled shift to end it or stay against your will. However, an employer does have the right to ask you to stay beyond your shift, and you are free to do so as long as you are being compensated for it.

What are the rules for happy hour in Indiana?

As part of the new law, happy hours are capped at four hours a day and less than 15 hours a week. They're also prohibited from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m., as are all-you-can-drink or “bottomless” specials. The law also allows bars and restaurants to sell mixed drinks to go, under some very specific conditions.

What is the new alcohol law in Indiana?

Senate Bill 146 lowered the age from 19 to 18 during the 2024 legislative session. According to the law, restaurants and hotels in Indiana can now hire servers who are 18 to serve guests alcoholic beverages under certain conditions.

Why can't alcohol be sold on Sundays?

As state and local governments cannot rely on religious reasons for the ban on Sunday alcohol sales, the justification for these restrictions must come from other factors, which include public health and safety concerns, and curbing excessive alcohol consumption and its consequences.

What states don't allow happy hour?

No Happy Hour

Known as Happy Hour, the practice is decidedly American - but eight states have decided to abstain from allowing drinkers to get cheap drinks after a day's work. The others include Indiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Utah, and Vermont.

What is the difference between happy hour and cocktail hour?

(KAHK-tayl ow-ur) A cocktail hour, often referred to as “happy hour” in casual settings. Usually in the early evening, when bars, restaurants, and other establishments offer discounted prices on alcoholic beverages.

In what states can you buy alcohol 24 hours a day?

Nevada, in contrast to its neighbor Utah, is the only state where you can buy alcohol any hour of the day. Unlike other states with a designated time that bars must close (usually 1 to 4 a.m.), Nevada has no required "last call."

Is happy hour coming back to Indiana?

Published June 30, 2024 • Updated on June 30, 2024 at 4:42 pm. After a nearly 40-year absence, happy hour is returning to the Hoosier State. A law repealing happy hours, which received by bipartisan support in the Indiana General Assembly and was signed by Gov. Eric Holcomb in May, will go into effect on Monday.

What are typical happy hour hours?

What are normal happy hours? While happy hour varies from bar to bar, normal happy hours are either 4 PM to 6 PM or 5 PM to 7 PM. These time blocks offer customers the incentive to get drinks and food at a discount, for free with another purchase, or by winning a fun competition.

Can you leave a restaurant with alcohol?

In California (probably most states), you can take home your leftover wine. If you're driving, you need to be aware of the open container laws - a bottle that has been opened and recorked/recapped must be not accessible to the vehicle occupants (if in a car - in a bus, limousine or RV it's a bit different).

Can a passenger in a car drink alcohol in Indiana?

Are Vehicle Passengers Allowed to Have an Open Container? Passengers are allowed to be under the influence of alcohol in a moving car, but they are prohibited from having an open container in their possession.

What does "happy hour" mean at a bar?

a period of time during which a restaurant or bar sells drinks at a reduced price. (Definition of happy hour from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Can an 18 year old drink alcohol with a parent in Indiana?

The legal drinking age in Indiana is 21. Anyone younger than that can be charged with a crime for drinking, holding, or even being in the same car as alcohol. If you're 21 or older, you can also be charged with a crime for selling, buying, or giving alcohol to a minor.

When did Indiana get rid of happy hour?

(WANE)— A new law that ends Indiana's ban on “Happy Hour” went into effect on July 1. House Bill 1086 revokes the Indiana General Assembly's 1985 decision to ban Happy Hours and allows bars and restaurants to offer hourly discounts on alcohol sales.

What are the funny laws in Indiana?

For Your Enjoyment: The 10 Strangest Indiana Laws
  • Mustaches are illegal if the bearer has a tendency to habitually kiss other humans. ...
  • Baths may not be taken between the months of October and March. ...
  • It is forbidden to eat watermelon at the park in Beech Grove. ...
  • It is unlawful to catch a fish with a crossbow.

Can a restaurant sell margaritas to go?

A ROUNDUP OF STATE LAWS

California: Restaurants in California can sell cocktails and wine to-go (but not beer), subject to a long list of conditions. For example, the alcohol must be picked up in person (it can't be delivered) and it must be in a container with a sealed lid.

How many hours straight can you legally work in a day in Indiana?

The state of Indiana has no set limit on how many hours an employee can work. However, employees who work more than 8 hours a day, or 40 hours per week, are entitled to overtime pay of one and a half (1.5) of their regular pay rate.

Can I refuse to stay past my shift?

In most cases, your employer cannot fire you solely for refusing to stay past your scheduled shift. Employment laws protect employees from adverse action for asserting their rights. If staying late is not part of your job description or employment contract, refusing to do so should not be grounds for termination.

What's the longest shift you can legally work?

Presently, no OSHA standard to regulate extended and unusual shifts in the workplace exists. A work period of eight consecutive hours over five days with at least eight hours of rest in between shifts defines a standard shift. Any shift that goes beyond this standard is considered to be extended or unusual.