Happy 85th Anniversary, Repeal of Prohibition in Ontario!

[The Bread Guy]

Statement from MPP Randy Hillier in the Legislature yesterday:

Tomorrow (31 May) will mark the 85th anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition in Ontario. Thomas Reed once opined, “One of the greatest delusions in the world is the hope that the evils in this world are to be cured by legislation.” In the difficult years of World War I, members of the temperance movement forgot Mr. Reed’s dictum, and Ontario banned the sale of alcohol. For eight years, between 1916 and 1924, the people of Ontario were prohibited from drinking their favourite beers, wines and spirits. For eight years, our traditions of individual liberty were squashed, and criminal activity flourished in the trade and smuggling of spirits. Indeed, in hindsight, Prohibition was an unfortunate error in our history.

In 1924, following a referendum, Prohibition was replaced with our current system of dealing with alcohol. Today, people across Ontario have a lacklustre choice in alcohol for purchase. Today, our citizens pay exorbitant taxes and inflated costs to prop up government-protected monopolies that deny consumers choice.

Though our 1924 referendum was a step in the right direction, for it repealed the failed eight-year experiment with Prohibition by empowering people through referendums, this government has fallen back into the failures of a nanny state once again.

 

[PMedMoe]

Guess that means a drink is in order.  ;D

 

[vonGarvin]

In 1924, following a referendum, Prohibition was replaced with our current system of dealing with alcohol. Today, people across Ontario have a lacklustre choice in alcohol for purchase. Today, our citizens pay exorbitant taxes and inflated costs to prop up government-protected monopolies that deny consumers choice.

Though our 1924 referendum was a step in the right direction, for it repealed the failed eight-year experiment with Prohibition by empowering people through referendums, this government has fallen back into the failures of a nanny state once again.

AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Rheostatic]

Guess that means a drink is in order.  ;D

Cheers :cheers:

 

[mariomike]

Prohibition was replaced with our current system of dealing with alcohol.

There is a book that describes what replaced Prohibition for five decades in Ontario.

"Punched Drunk: Alcohol, Surveillance and the LCBO, 1927-1975":
http://www.puncheddrunk.ca/

"In the years between 1927 and 1975 — beginning just at the end of prohibition in the province — tens of thousands of people across Ontario received what were probably quite unwelcome letters from their Liquor Control Board. They were told that their privilege to purchase liquor had been revoked.
Specifically, the letters informed the addressees that they were being “interdicted,” and that any purchase or possession of alcohol on their part would now be considered a criminal act."
http://www.fernwoodpublishing.ca/website_pdfs/puncheddrunk.pdf