Longer happy hours and cheap meals with alcoholic beverages are coming to Pennsylvania.

Inflation-stricken consumers could soon expect changes in their favorite restaurants that will be easier on their wallets.

Longer happy hours and combo meals that include an alcoholic beverage are among a number of changes to the state’s liquor law included in a bill the House passed Wednesday and that has been forwarded to Gov. Josh Shapiro. Shapiro’s spokesman Manuel Bonder said the governor is expected to sign the bill.

The bill, sponsored by Democratic Rep. Matt Gergely of Allegheny County, is intended to help restaurants and bars that are still struggling to recover from the hit to their bottom lines caused by the pandemic, as well as help them with their staffing issues.

Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association President Tom Tyler came up with the idea of ​​changing the long-standing rule that limited happy hours to 14 hours per week and extending it to 24 hours.

“Happy hours are known to be used as a way to attract customers to establishments through special drink offers,” said Chuck Moran, executive director of the Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association, in a statement. “By increasing the total number of hours per week, we hope that each establishment can use creative marketing to use this tool to attract more customers.”

In addition, the bill would allow bars and restaurants to offer discounts on up to two food and drink combos per day and include the cost of up to two drinks in the price of self-sponsored events such as Super Bowl parties. Moran said both are ideas Tyler proposed to help bars, taverns and licensed restaurants find new ways to market their businesses.

Other changes include the permanent expansion of outdoor seating, first introduced during the pandemic, and allowing beer distributor employees to work in restaurants, bars and other licensed liquor establishments.

The bill, which received nearly unanimous support in the House and Senate, is expected to take effect 60 days after the governor signs it.

Gergely said this multifaceted bill will help small businesses across Pennsylvania and “provide flexibility and new opportunities for these businesses that form the economic backbone of our communities.”

Jan Murphy can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on X at @JanMurphy.