It's no secret that Ole Dozo has some strong political beliefs, but that's only because I'm some bleeding heart woke pussy that believes in radical things like the separation of church and state, not becoming a fascist nation, equality, saving the middle class, and our planet. But just because this story is politically based doesn't mean it should be divisive! (unless you've lost a loved one to drunk driving, then yeah, I totes get it being a touchy subject) IMO it's pretty bipartisan. It doesn't matter if you think guns should have more rights than people or that it shouldn't be taboo to teach the TRUTH; you probably enjoy having a few cold ones with your pals after a long day. Left, right, or center, every demo drinks. For the first time since 1985, there's a significant chance that Happy Hour returns to the Ocean State. The Rhode Island House of Representatives passed a bill 54-10 that would bring discounted drinks back as long as it's served with food. Rhode Island is currently one of only eight states that doesn't allow Happy Hour, along with Alaska, Indiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Utah, and Vermont. **watch this for more details---sup Amanda Pitts?** I completed understand the concerns about drinking and driving, but it's not 1987. There's RIPTA, Uber, and Lyft; hell, maybe this will even help bring taxis back. As someone whose primary income comes from ride-share driving, this is great for the workers. It'll create more of a demand for rides during dull times, which means more drivers to give people rides home. Plus, for people in Newport, Providence, or any of the various Main Streets, they're well within walking distance of bars/restaurants. This might not be the most PC thing to say in today's climate, but two beers after work aren't the receipt for a DUI unless you weigh like 78 pounds. Besides, how about we play some defense against drunk driving? Maybe this could create even more jobs with a parking lot lookout to make sure drunks don't get behind the wheel. It's like a DUI checkpoint without all the "you're going to jail" drama. Instead, you order a ride.
I've worked in multiple restaurants in this beautiful state, and that tweener time between lunch and dinner becomes a dead zone. This legislation will only help local establishments and the people working there: more foot traffic and tips for bartenders/servers. I mean, outside of the concerns over drunk driving, this seems like a no-brainer and is a great way to help places still recovering from the after-effects of the pandemic. The bill still needs approval from the State Senate to go into effect, but we're in the red zone instead of the shadow of our own goal line. While we're at it, bars should be open until 2 am. Don't drive drunk.
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