欢乐时光

爱喝啤酒的英国人面临着一个清醒的现实：5月23日，一个全国约半数酒馆和酒吧的代表团体表示，出于英国政府不断施加的压力，他们将限制下午下班后的黄金时段的售酒交易，通过商业途径减少不负责任的酗酒买醉行为，如取消“不限时畅饮”服务等。

Beer-swilling Britons face a sobering (令人清醒的) prospect: an unhappy hour. A group representing about half the country’s pubs and bars said Monday it is 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 (服务费), for example, will be out. Half-price drinks will be allowed, but only if done responsibly with say, offers of food, too.

在英国文化里，Happy Hour表示“欢乐时光，快乐时间”，意指白领下班到晚饭之间的一段时间。Happy Hour是上班族与同事朋友喝两杯啤酒、吐吐苦水的好时机，此时商家纷纷提供减价酒水和各种优惠活动来招揽生意。