How happy (hour) is your state?

It’s five o’clock somewhere! Office dwellers across the nation count down to the end of the work day in anticipation of that $3.50 margarita deal a block from the office. But did you know some states have prohibited drink specials and others are bringing them back after long hiatuses?  

In July Illinois lifted its 26-year-old ban on happy hour. Gov. Bruce Rauner signed a bill that would allow residents to get drink discounts at pre-set times. State lawmakers had followed DuPage County’s lead -- ban happy hours to reduce the number of drunk drivers. And there certainly seemed to be an impact. In 1988 (the year before the ban went into effect) half of Illinois’ fatal crashes were alcohol-related, according to The Chicago Tribune. In 2013, that number had fallen to 32%. Now Illinoisans can enjoy discounts for up to four hours a day and up to 15 hours a week.

You might be surprised to know that the after-hour ritual you and your coworkers partake in at the local bar is prohibited in some states. But when you look at some of the statistics tied to drinking, it’s not all that surprising that some states have sought to outlaw drink specials. Excessive alcohol consumption accounts for one in 10 deaths among working-age (20-64) adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And excessive drinking cost the U.S. $224 billion in 2006, with a whopping 72% of that amount coming from lost workplace productivity.

Legally speaking, happy hour is a specific period of time when bars and restaurants offer booze at discounted prices. Pity those poor folks in Indiana, Alaska and North Carolina who can’t unwind after a long day with half-price draft beers and $4 glasses of Chardonnay.

Here are a few states and their happy hour regulations (or lack thereof):

Illinois (recently reengaged in happy hour festivities)

The state still has some happy hour restrictions. No deals after 10 p.m., open bar specials are only allowed if purchased as part of a party package including food, a dedicated event space and wearable identifiers for attendees, to name a few.

Massachusetts (dry as a bone)

In December 1984, Massachusetts became the first U.S. state to ban happy hour. That means it is illegal to alter the price of an alcoholic beverage (so no bottomless brunches, 2-for-1s, zilch). The regulation came about in the wake of the September 1983 death of 20-year-old Kathleen Barry, who died after riding on top of a friend’s car in the parking lot in Braintree, Mass. She and her friend had won free pitchers of beer in a “name that tune” competition. The ban coincided with National Drunk and Drugged Driving Awareness Week, which was created by President Reagan. There’s one loophole if you’re thirsting for a free drink: the 2011 Gaming Act provision specifies that free alcoholic beverages can be served on a casino’s gaming floor, but not in restaurants or hotels that are attached to them.

New York (pretty buzzed)

Happy hour is definitely in session in the Empire State. But there’s one important restriction -- selling unlimited drinks in a set period of time or for a fixed price is prohibited, except when it comes to brunch. Last February, the NYC Hospitality Alliance triggered panic among bottomless-brunch-loving New Yorkers with a tweet linking to the New York State Liquor Authority (SLA)’s statement on the prohibition of unlimited drink specials. But the SLA alleviated fears that a favorite weekend activity would be banished, clarifying that “there is a limited exception in the statute when the service of alcohol is incidental to the event, such as in the case of certain brunch specials.” Sites like Thrillist even tell you how to enjoy happy hour for 20 straight hours in Manhattan.

California (happy as a clam)

The Golden State has embraced happy hour -- all day, every day. There are no regulations as far as we know. There isn’t even a limit when it comes to the number of drinks one can serve at a time. There’s even a website called “Happy Hour California” that serves as a portal for you to discover happy hour hot spots in your area.

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19 states and territories have no restrictions: California, Colorado, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

21 states have restrictions of some kind: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington

11 states have banned happy hours entirely: Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont

Source: National Center for State Courts