Philly Loves Hump Day

Restaurants sober up as patrons drink earlier to save money

(NEWSER) - There’s a recession on, and that’s forcing drinkers everywhere to change their schedules. These days bars are filling up in the late afternoon, the Los Angeles Times reports, as patrons pinch pennies by slurping happy hour specials. “We don’t see a change in what people are drinking,” said the beverage director for one bar chain, “as much as the time they are drinking.” More»

(NEWSER) - Britain may make "happy hour" specials illegal and force companies to put cigarette-style health warnings on booze bottles, the Telegraph reports. With alcohol taking more lives and costing the nation up to $37 billion a year in health bills, the government is also planning a public awareness campaign. Officials will decide on the happy hour ban early next month. More»

British pub patron swings crazily at customers

(NEWSER) - An angry Brit has pleaded guilty to charging into a pub with a chainsaw after he was kicked out for smoking, the Daily Mail reports. Dean Dinnen, 24, swung the saw wildly at customers, slicing a tendon in one man and sending others scampering. Defending themselves with bar stools, patrons eventually subdued Dinnen, broke several of his ribs, and punctured one of his lungs before police showed up. More»

In just half an hour

(NEWSER) - Competitive eating legend Takeru Kobayashi wolfed down 337 chicken wings in half an hour today in Philadelphia, shattering the previous record of 255, set just last year. Some 20,000 spectators turned up for Wing Bowl XX, and Kobayashi took home a $20,000 cash prize, the AP reports. It was Kobayashi's first year at the Bowl, the Philadelphia Inquirer notes. "I could probably eat another 100 wings or so," he said afterward. More»

Includes abortion restrictions and voter identification laws

(NEWSER) - The new year has brought us about 40,000 state laws ranging from abortion and voter restrictions to golf cart requirements and a ban on happy hours. MSNBC runs down a few of them:

• Several states will require employers to confirm the legality of workers through a federal system called E-Verify. Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and South Carolina all have versions of the law.