Ah, happy hour—the phrase that sparks images of drink specials, discounted food, and unwinding after a long day. While it’s easy to assume it’s a mere marketing ploy, the term first appeared in Shakespeare’s King Henry V to describe a time of entertainment and revelry, which is somewhat similar to today’s idea of happy hour. Here’s a closer look at how those magic words came to be a fixture in our language.    

The Origins of Happy Hour

It was back in 1913 when the naval crew of the USS Arkansas, a war battleship, organized social gatherings and dubbed these “happy hours.” Although alcohol was very much a part of these organized entertainment periods, there were also boxing matches, moving pictures, and dancing to while away time at sea. And when alcoholic drinks were banned on any vessels and stations in 1914, happy hours in the Navy continued sans liquors and tipsy merrymaking.  

So how did happy hour reach the land? It’s possible that returning sailors popularized the slang. However, its meaning changed when civilians began using it to get intoxicated—quickly and secretly—during the Prohibition era because of the Volstead Act, a law that banned the production and consumption of alcohol. People began gathering illicitly at speakeasies or at home to drink before having dinner, so happy hour turned into a euphemism for such.

Even after Prohibition ended, the phrase still came around—and once again took on another definition. Its connotation of discounted drinks might have begun in the late 1940s or early 50s when the term was again loosely mentioned in 1951. A couple of years later, happy hour came into public consciousness when a Saturday Evening Post article mentioned it as part of military life. From thereon, the term integrated into common parlance.

Why It Remains a Staple

The slang happy hour was picked up by bars and restaurants in the 1970s to promote drink specials—something familiar in today’s food industry. The idea behind discounted food and drink specials is that high demand eventually balances out the related costs. This practice also encourages people to walk into the bar after a hard day’s work, driving up foot traffic in the process. However, there are no hard and fast rules when the specials will be offered since it’s up to the establishment to do so. Don’t be surprised if your local bar has two hours of drink specials instead of just the one.

Join your friends and colleagues for happy hour specials from Monday to Thursday at Gilly's Sports Bar. Located in Dunwoody, GA, this restaurant and sports bar offers a wide selection of drink specials and delectable items off the menu like wings, ribs, and steak. This Atlanta watering hole offers trivia nights, poker games, and karaoke—just call (770) 817-2789 or check out their menu online.