New Law Allows Happy Hour Advertising In NH
HAMPTON BEACH, N.H. (CBS) - New Hampshire watering holes can now advertise something that's off limits in Massachusetts: happy hour.
The new law could stir up a bit of a border war.
Under the new law, bars and restaurants in New Hampshire can advertise happy hour specials in newspapers and on signs outside.
Derek Gulizia and Melanie Steck visited Hampton Beach from Tyngsborough, Mass on Thursday. The new New Hampshire law could bring them across the state line more often.
"We'll definitely come to New Hampshire more if we know there's going to be specials and stuff like that," said Gulizia.
WBZ-TV's Lauren Leamanczyk reports.
Meanwhile, a few miles away in Massachusetts, a restaurant can't host a happy hour, much less advertise it.
Erica Capolupo, the manager at SurfSide5 in Salisbury, Mass., said the new law across the border won't help her business.
"People are looking for a deal these days," said Capolupo.
Capolupo doesn't think the added competition in New Hampshire will deter too many customers. But, she does wish there was a more even playing field.
"Being able to have the advertisement, absolutely it would benefit us," said Capolupo.
Back in Hampton Beach, bartenders at La Bec Rouge are gearing up for a busy summer. They're planning new promotions to capitalize on the new happy hour law and they hope they may even bring a few more customers across the border.
"I think we can definitely be taking some of that market share and bringing them over to Hampton Beach," said
Opponents of the happy hour law said it will promote binge drinking. They're going to be keeping a closer eye on that here and the state has the power to shut down any promotion that goes too far.
State regulations banning happy hour in Massachusetts have been in place since 1984.
