New York Killjoys Looking To Ban Happy Hour

The New York Post is reporting that mysterious sources within the Department of Health are campaigning to make it illegal to offer special discounts on beer or alcohol, effectively ruining happy hour for everybody.

 

Before anybody panics, Gawker points out that all the sources behind the terrible rumor are anonymous. The only named official in the Post's story is Department of Health spokesman Sam Miller, who denies any "plans to pursue any policy regarding discount-alcohol sale."

 

The nameless sources say the anti-alcohol campaigns are being pushed by Commissioner Thomas Farley, who announced in a 2012 "Take Care New York" report that he intended to "reduce risky alcohol use."

 

"DOH will advocate for policies that reduce access to alcohol by adolescents and for limits on sales practices in communities and campuses that promote drinking among adolescents and heavy drinking among adults," he said in the report.

 

Nineteen states currently prohibit happy hour.

 

According to more anonymous sources, the Post reports that department officials have also been looking into the legality of serving liquor in ice cream. As colossal mudslides and alcoholic milkshakes are a menu staple at casual-dining chains, we can probably expect some of the big players around Times Square to have something to say about that one.