Most states allow bars to open until 2 a.m., while some allow it until 1 a.m. (such as North Dakota, Maine, etc.), 3 a.m. (such as Tennessee), or even 4 a.m. (such as New York). In addition, each county and city may have its own laws and regulations, and there may also be special arrangements or restrictions on weekends and holidays.
Many bars offer discounted drinks and side dishes at a certain time after get off work, which may be half-off or a shot of spirits for only $1. This period is usually from 17:00 to 19:00, but some bars start as early as 16:00 and some end as late as 20:00, which is called “Happy Hour“.
Happy Hour is tantamount to encouraging people to drink more, and therefore is opposed by many prohibitionists and organizations. As of 2015, states such as Alaska, Indiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, and Utah prohibit bars from offering discounts to promote alcohol consumption at any time, that is, they are not allowed to provide “Happy Hour”. Utah’s ban was passed in 2011. Other states that previously banned Happy Hour have lifted their bans in recent years, including Pennsylvania, Kansas, and Illinois, which lifted their Happy Hour bans in 2011, 2012, and 2015, respectively.
Many bars will have a Last Call thirty minutes before closing. This is the last time to order drinks, and no more drinks will be sold after that. This is usually notified to customers through ringing a bell, flashing lights or verbal announcements.
The federal government passed Prohibition in 1917, banning the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages across the United States. However, this did not help the American people quit drinking. Instead, it led to the rise of criminal groups and was abolished after only 13 years of implementation. The classic blockbuster “Once Upon A Time In America” in film history tells the story of this period.
Even now, restrictions on alcoholic beverages can be seen everywhere. In addition to the legal drinking age mentioned above, many states stipulate that alcoholic beverages must be placed in the trunk of the car (not in the front or back seats). Drinking on the roadside is illegal. If you carry alcohol on the road, you may need to wrap it in a paper bag and not expose the bottle. Only Las Vegas can hold wine and drink it on the road.