Push begins to bring back happy hours in Rhode Island, but opponents say it's 'blood money'

PROVIDENCE − In their zeal to help bars and restaurants make up for the income they lost during the pandemic, members of the Rhode Island House of Representatives voted 54-to-11 last year to bring back "happy hours."

But the legislation stalled out in the Senate, and this week − as the hospitality industry renewed its push to revive happy hours − the lawmakers were confronted with the pain and anger of parents who lost their teenage children to alleged drunk drivers.

"Remember their names," Janine Passaretti-Molloy, the mother of 17-year-old Olivia Rose Passaretti, who was killed early on New Year's Day 2022, begged state lawmakers.

"Olivia Passaretti. Matthew Dennison. Tori Andreozzi and so many others."

"Does this only become real when it happens to you?" she asked the members of the House Corporations Committee. "When your life is turned upside down and instead of happily celebrating Christmas around the Christmas tree, your child's birthdays ... graduation from high school, all future life events ... you are now [at] their gravestone sobbing?"

"I want every single one of you to imagine the scenario and replace my daughter's name with the name of your child, or one of your loved ones and then replace me with you. 'You're child is dead.' Really think hard about that," she said.

Following her to the microphone, Mark Dennison, the father of high school hockey player Matthew Dennison, told the legislators: "I am insulted and offended that we are even talking about this tonight."

He detailed the "27 agonizing days" until his family had to make a decision no family should have to make for their own 17-year-old child: letting him pass away.

More on Happy Hour:Political Scene: RI is one of the only states that bans 'happy hour.' Should that change?

Why doesn't Rhode Island have happy hour?

Rhode Island's ban on happy hour dates back to 1985, when lawmakers nationwide were facing pressure to crack down on drunk driving.

Spurred by the death of a 20-year-old woman who was killed after leaving a Braintree bar, Massachusetts became the first state to ban happy hour in 1984. Rhode Island followed suit a year later.

The bill's sponsor, then-state Rep. Charles C. Baldelli, D-Woonsocket, "said it would not be good to have Rhode Island bars attracting Bay State residents for happy hours," The Providence Journal reported at the time.

Rhode Island is currently one of only eight states with an outright ban on happy hour. (The others: Alaska, Indiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Utah and Vermont.)The measure was intended to cut down on drunk driving, but those clamoring to overturn it say that there are other ways to address that issue.

Of the small businesses who hailed the return of happy hours as a way to boost business, make up revenue lost during the pandemic, Dennison said: "Quite frankly, I do not feel sorry for them. I don't care. My son is dead ... and no amount of alcohol sales or food sales can bring back those who we have lost."

"Blood money," Carilyn Medeiros, of the Alliance for Safe Communities, called the potential gains from happy hour sales.

More:Driver, ex-Newport firefighter, enters plea in crash that killed high school hockey player

Happy hour bill would allow drink specials for customers who order food

The lead sponsor of the legislation, Rep. Karen Alzate, D-Pawtucket, told her colleagues earlier in the hearing that she viewed her legislation as a "great way to boost" the business and revenue of establishments that serve food and alcohol, and "really help the economy."

As she described the intent, the taverns and restaurants could only offer "Happy Hour drink specials" to customers who ordered food, defined in the bill as "any food product, prepared on premises, which is included on the establishment's menu ... or included [as a] daily specials as either an appetizer or entrée."

"Snacks, including, but not limited to, pretzels, popcorn, chips, or similar food products commonly eaten between regular meals do not meet the definition of a food item."

Those speaking in favor of the bill − or providing written testimony − included David Dadekian, the founder and president of Eat Drink RI. His argument: "Happy hour drink specials are revenue generators for bars and restaurants in 42 other states and would be a boon to business here."

Christopher Parisi, the chairman of the Rhode Island Small Business Coalition, an organization representing "over 1500 small businesses here in Rhode Island," echoed his message.

Rick Simone, speaking on behalf to the Federal Hill Commerce Association and the RI Small Business Coalition, appeared in person to answer some of the lawmakers' questions and try to assure them: "We are not tone deaf to the concerns of those families."

Among the points he made then and in a subsequent email exchange with The Journal:

"Computer systems can function and ensure Happy Hour prices are not granted without a food order. Liquor Liability insurance is available for Happy Hours. This would be a choice for restaurants and bars to participate in and not everyone will do it."

His argumentL "There is a measurable economic benefit through the payroll tax and the 7 & 1% meals and beverages taxes."

The bill was held for further study.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Happy hours in RI could be back but grieving parents oppose it