Happy Hour

愛喝啤酒的英國人面臨著一個清醒的現實：5月23日，一個全國約半數酒館和酒吧的代表團體表示，出于英國政府不斷施加的壓力，他們將限制下午下班后的黃金時段的售酒交易，通過商業途徑減少不負責任的酗酒買醉行為，如取消"不限時暢飲"服務等。外電報道如下：Beer-swilling Britons face a sobering prospect: an unhappy hour. A group representing about half the country's pubs and bars said Monday it is curbing Happy Hour offers and other deals that encourage irresponsible drinking, a British pastime that has come under increasing attack from the government. It's not quite The Death of Happy Hour, as the Daily Mirror newspaper headline put it Monday. Publicans can continue to host and advertise Happy Hours, as long as they don't spur people to drink too much, too quickly. Offers that invite customers to drink for free after paying a cover charge, for example, will be out. Half-price drinks will be allowed, but only if done responsibly with say, offers of food, too. 在英國文化里，Happy Hour表示“歡樂時光，快樂時間”，意指白領下班到晚飯之間的一段時間。Happy Hour是上班族與同事朋友喝兩杯啤酒、吐吐苦水的好時機，此時商家紛紛提供減價酒水和各種優惠活動來招攬生意。 （中國日報網站編）