If you are reading this article then you along with a majority of your co-workers, family and friends probably participate in this activity called Happy Hour. It then occurred to me that a majority of us don't even know the exact definition or the history of this global event that we all eagerly participate in.

According to Wikipedia, the term Happy Hour originated in the 1920s in the United States Navy. The word itself was slang for a scheduled entertainment period on a ship where boxing and wrestling matches took place. This afforded sailors the opportunity to let off the stress accumulated during long periods at sea.

As we know it, this term is a marketing term for a period of time where discounts are offered on alcoholic drinks. One major challenge of any drinking establishment is soliciting business during the late afternoon and early evening hours. Although some people do stop in for drinks after work, many establishments remain slow until at least 9 PM. The typical time period is somewhere between 4 PM and 7 PM and is used to boost business during their slow hours. In recent years, many businesses have started marketing the term Reverse Happy Hour in order to increase business from 10 PM through the closing hours. In the 1980s, establishments started pushing free hors d'oeuvres in an attempt to lower blood alcohol content from excessive drinking. Within the United States, Happy Hour has been banned in Massachusetts and in U.S. Military clubs. In Europe, Happy Hour has also seen recent criticism and has been illegal in the Republic of Ireland since 2003 due to the Intoxicating Liquor Act. Many other cities, states and countries are advocating banning Happy Hour as well in order to curtail drunk driving and alcohol abuse.

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