“Happy hour” is back in Illinois — albeit in moderation — but many bar owners in the state have been slow to try and capitalize on the new law.

Signed by Gov. Bruce Rauner in July, the measure allows happy hour drink discounts for up to 15 hours a week, but for no more than four hours in a single day. The law also mandates that specials be advertised a week in advance and may not continue after 10 p.m.

Steve Cekander, general manager of Buffalo Wild Wings in Effingham, doesn’t anticipate problems with the planned happy hour specials at his restaurant. Drink specials are currently offered there weekdays from 3 to 6 p.m.

“We haven’t got the word out yet,” he told the Effingham (Ill.) Daily News. “It’s coming gradually. I think the Happy Hour will be really good in the long run.”

The practice of discounting alcoholic beverages for limited time periods during business hours was outlawed in Illinois in 1989 amid concerns that the drink specials encouraged binge drinking and increased the likelihood of drunk driving and other alcohol-related incidents. It was a prohibition that seemed unnecessary to many.

“I don’t know why it went away,” said Colby Patterson, who owns Scrubby’s Pub in Effingham. “What’s the difference from having discounted drinks all day as opposed to discounted drinks for just one or a couple hours?”

Some bar owners, however, are wary of the restrictions being lifted, even in a limited way.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea to entice people with cheap drinks to get them drunk fast,” said Nancy Roley, who manages the Orchard Inn in Effingham.

Nationwide, several states still outlaw “happy hour,” including Alaska, Indiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Utah and Vermont.

Others believe the benefits of reinstating “happy hour” will outweigh any concerns that come with it.

“This definitely helps,” Patterson said of the new law. “I’m happy that it’s back. It’s a reason that brings people in the door.”

The Effingham (Ill.) Daily News contributed to this story.