Happy hour won’t make bar patrons drink more

SUNDAY MORNING EDITORIAL — The way we drink in B.C. is changing. Several new rules went into effect this week as a result of the provincial government’s liquor policy review — not earth-shattering but positive.

Let’s deal with just one of the new areas of regulation that arose out of parliamentary secretary John Yap’s review of B.C. liquor laws.

Happy hours have been contentious in part because many cities have problems with the so-called bar-flush. When bars close, patrons empty out and create a headache for police who must engage in crowd control until everyone finds a ride home.

In theory, happy hours expand the problem because they get people drinking earlier and more often in order to take advantage of cheap drinks. So, as a means of preventing binge drinking and all the problems that go with it, discounting drinks between 2 and 4 p.m. was banned.

B.C. was by no means alone but the trend in Canada has been in favour of happy hours. This province was the last to have a ban in place. In many U.S. states and other jurisdictions, happy hours remain banned.

The restaurant industry was against bringing back happy hours here because they weren’t allowed to discount like bars.

But, as of this week, happy hours are allowed by B.C. provincial law with a $3 minimum per drink. That’s not a bad compromise, and a few other rules were loosened up for drinking in restaurants, too.

The $3 charge applies to a single ounce cocktail, five-ounce glass of wine or 12-ounce bottle of beer or cider. Minimum for a pint of beer is $5 and $15 for a 60-ounce pitcher.

Two-for-one drink specials are still outlawed but, subject to the minimums, the limits on hours of the day are gone.

Happy hour will save bar patrons a few dollars but is otherwise unlikely to be noticeable. A study of five bars in Ontario showed no significant difference in alcohol consumption with or without happy hour.

Allowing discounted drinks, within limits, is simply another change that puts some trust in people to drink responsibly.