I respectfully oppose the Virginia Restaurant Lodging and Travel Association’s petition to amend current ABC regulations to allow happy hour promotions to continue until 12:00 a.m.

While I appreciate the economic pressures facing Virginia’s hospitality industry, extending alcohol promotions later into the night would likely increase the risk of alcohol misuse, impaired driving, and related harms—particularly among young adults and college-age populations. The current 9:00 p.m. cutoff provides a reasonable balance between business flexibility and public safety.

Decades of prevention research demonstrate that increased alcohol availability and extended hours of promotion are linked to higher rates of binge drinking, alcohol-related crashes, and injuries. These risks are amplified during late-night hours when impulse control is lower, alternative transportation options may be more limited, and enforcement resources are reduced.

Virginia’s success in reducing DUI convictions and alcohol-related fatalities in recent years reflects the effectiveness of existing safeguards. Weakening one of those guardrails could reverse that progress. Maintaining the current restriction reinforces our state’s commitment to responsible alcohol policy and public health.

Young adults—especially college students—are a vulnerable group when it comes to risky drinking behaviors. Expanding happy hour promotions later into the night normalizes prolonged drinking occasions and sends a message inconsistent with the Commonwealth’s efforts to prevent substance misuse and support safer campus and community environments.

For these reasons, I urge the Virginia ABC Board to deny the petition and maintain the existing 9:00 p.m. cutoff for happy hour promotions. Protecting lives, health, and safety must remain the priority.

Respectfully submitted,

Kathy Reed, MA, ICPS

Executive Director

Substance Abuse Free Environment (SAFE)