The Naperville City Council has removed the long-standing prohibition on happy hour drink promotions, which had been in effect for over ten years. This change allows local bars and restaurants to offer drink specials once more. Naperville will align with state-level happy hour regulations but will implement additional conditions.
According to recommendations from the Naperville Liquor Commission, discounted drinks must be served until 7 p.m., a time earlier than the state’s 10 p.m. cutoff. Businesses are also restricted from lowering drink prices by more than 50% and cannot serve more than two alcoholic drinks to a person under most conditions.
Happy hours were initially banned in Naperville because of several alcohol-related incidents in the city’s downtown. These incidents included a 2014 drunken-driving crash resulting in the drowning of two young men in a water-filled quarry and a 2012 stabbing death of an elementary school teacher during a conflict at a Chicago Avenue club.
After those incidents, Naperville introduced various restrictions to reduce alcohol-related problems. Such measures included not allowing patrons to enter or re-enter establishments or purchase shots during the hour preceding closure. In 2015, Illinois lifted its statewide ban on happy hours, which had been enforced since 1989. The new state guidelines permitted happy hour specials, with restrictions such as limiting the promotions to four hours daily and 15 hours weekly, and disallowing volume specials like two-for-one deals.
Despite the statewide change over a decade ago, Naperville’s Liquor Commission decided in 2017 to maintain the city’s ban on happy hour promotions. Mayor Scott Wehrli noted that alcohol-related incidents haven’t persisted in recent years, highlighting the city’s progress in ensuring patron safety downtown.
Allowing happy hours is expected to make Naperville businesses more competitive with nearby suburbs, enhancing revenue for both the enterprises and the city. According to Monica Conners, President of the Naperville Development Partnership, the absence of happy hour negatively affects competitiveness, financial performance, and impacts employees.
Conners also stated that the ban creates marketing issues for large restaurant groups with several locations, as they must prepare Naperville-specific menus and adjust their online presence accordingly.
Christina Caton Kitchel from Caton Commercial Real Estate Group addressed the council, emphasizing that happy hours attract customers during off-peak times. She observed that successful local restaurants fill out their schedules during peak times, and happy hours provide incentives for those on fixed incomes or with families to visit earlier.
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