Ontario Happy Hour Law

I previously posted about happy hour being banned in Ontario. I realize now that I was slightly off, or at very least I wasn't precise enough. Happy hour was banned in 1984, but since then it seems bars/restaurants are allowed to have lower prices and certain times of the day.

In 2007, the Ontario government released and update to these laws: INFORMATION BULLETIN – No. 014 Pricing and Promotion of Liquor by Liquor Sales Licensees. So while prices are now allowed to fluctuate throughout the day, thereby allowing for what is commonly known as "happy hour", actually advertising a happy hour is explicitly against the law.

The posting and advertising of prices and promotions must be responsible in nature. A licensee is not permitted to advertise or post liquor prices and promotions, inside or outside of the licensed premises, in a manner that may promote immoderate consumption. For example, the use of the terms “Happy Hour” or “Cheap Drinks”, or something similar, is prohibited.

So bars are allowed to have a happy hour, but they aren't allowed to tell their customers about this happy hour, or even advertise that they have "cheap drinks", which would be 100% truthful since the drinks would be cheap, at least relative to their normal prices. I don't see why our prudish attitude needs to stifle free speech.

Even with the silly regulation on not being allowed to tell customers the truth, being able to change prices of drinks more than once a day is a step in the right direction. Of course, the government wouldn't want to liberalize one regulation without adding more on. There is now a minimum price on alcohol in bars that previously did not exist. Minimum price for a pint of beer is $3.33, a mixed drink (1.5 ounces of liquor) is $3 and a 6 ounce glass of wine for $2.40.

This just seems like madness to me. Why is this any of the government's business? There are a list of restrictions on this bulletin from the AGCO that just restricts the freedom of choice among bars and patrons. Our freedoms in Ontario are not just hampered by our retail system and the price floor on beer (though they are hampered by these too). If the government were to just get rid of most of the Liquor Licence Act, it would save money immediately since there would be less inspectors to hire.