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How long it takes a person to get happy will depend on the type of alcoholic beverage they are downing and how fast, but for most people it is not going to take the full 60-minutes of any happy hour to change their mood. Actually, happy hour may be a misnomer as most public watering holes offer a special price on certain drinks for longer than an hour, many times pushing it to two or three, and sometimes even longer for special events and holidays.

The origins of the term happy hour is somewhat vague, with reference to a news story in the Providence, Rhode Island local rag on July 4, 1961 as a reference to a bar closing down before patrons had a chance to take advantage of the full happy hour. Additional attributes go to some British songs that used the term for rhyming words for flowers, but the best reason for the term comes from its purpose. At any local bar, club or pub when patrons can get a reduced price on drinks, they are generally happy.

A patron can walk into almost any establishment with a liquor license and find times posted for a happy hour, typically in late afternoon or early evening, giving those on their way home from work a chance to tip a few at a lower cost as well as to draw in new patrons to the bar. Many of the locations extend the times posted for reduced drink prices beyond 60 expected minutes to allow the crowd to turn over once or twice before ending the reduced prices.

Contrary to what some may believe, happy hour is not designed to get rid of extra beer that may be going stale. Chances of beer going bad in a successful bar is almost nil and when they add some mixed drinks such as a bloody Mary, mint juleps, vodka shots and even marguerites to the happy hour menu, it draws in a more diverse clientele. While no establishment is going to be able to please everyone that walks through the door with its drink selection, pleasing most is usually enough to bring the patrons back again.

Many times, establishments will offer a happy hour or two just before live entertainment takes the stage, to help get people in the mood for dancing, eating and more drinking. Keeping everyone in the bar happy is the owner's main concern, and a few drinks offered at a special price will often help them succeed. Bar owners also have the challenge of making sure that everyone in the place stays happy, as some patrons may not be able to remain calm and friendly after spending too much time on the drink specials.

Patrons have to remember that simply because it is happy hour does not mean they have to try to drink the well dry. Anyone visiting any bat is reminded to drink responsibly and to always have a designated driver in the group to make sure everyone survives happy hour and make it home safely.