CITY HALL — Happy hour drink specials could be coming back to Chicago bars under a state bill now being considered by Gov. Bruce Rauner.
After being debated last week, the bill cleared both houses of the General Assembly and was sent to Rauner's desk.
Rauner spokeswoman Catherine Kelly said Monday,"The governor will carefully consider all legislation that crosses his desk."
Yet his signature was not assured, as the bill could get caught up in the budget showdown between Rauner and Democrats in the state Legislature.
Restaurants and bars, however, were quick to applaud its passage and urge its signing into law.
"For over two years, the Illinois Restaurant Association has been working with key stakeholders to modernize the Liquor Control Act," said Sam Toia, president of the association. He cheered bill sponsors "for understanding the needs of our industry throughout the state.”
Toia said both businesses and state tax coffers would benefit from the return of happy hour.
“This bill provides restaurants and bars with a fair opportunity to expand their customer base through modern marketing techniques," Toia added. "Ultimately, it will drive sales-tax revenue and continue to propel Illinois as the world-class culinary and hospitality destination it is today."
In 1989, in part in response to concerns over drunken driving, the state passed a ban on happy hours. It allowed bars and restaurants to have daily specials, but not hourly specials or 2-for-1 deals.
The measure just approved by the General Assembly allows drink specials of up to four hours, but retains other restrictions. Drink specials can be offered as a price reduction or meal deal, but not on a 2-for-1 basis or any other bargain that increases the volume of alcohol at a uniform price (say, a $5 pint turning into a $5 quart schooner at 5 p.m.). Happy hours would also not be allowed after 10 p.m.
The restaurant and bar industries were so excited to regain happy hours, they signed off on provisions in the legislation requiring bartenders and others serving alcohol to undergo mandatory training on how to keep people from getting overserved.
The group Mothers Against Drunk Driving, which was instrumental in getting the original ban passed, resolved to keep an open mind on the matter.
"MADD does not take a position on alcohol sales to those who are 21 years old or older," said spokeswoman Becky Iannotta, "but urges anyone who chooses to drink to plan ahead and designate a non-drinking, sober driver."
The bill allows home-rule government bodies like Chicago to impose further restrictions on happy hours, but Mayor Rahm Emanuel's press office declined to comment on whether additional local limits might be necessary if happy hours are made legal again.
Downtown Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) on Wednesday said the city would be monitoring any return of happy hours, and "time will tell" if any new local regulations are necessary.
"My hope is the industry will be respectful," Reilly said.
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