1957 liquor plebiscite
| 1957 Alberta liquor plebiscite results: Clover Bar[2] |
Question A: Do you approve additional types of outlets for the
sale of beer, wine and spirituous liquor subject to a local vote? |
| Ballot choice |
Votes |
% |
|
Yes |
3,035 |
67.87% |
|
No |
1,437 |
32.13% |
| Total votes |
4,472 |
100% |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined |
75 |
| 9,655 eligible electors, turnout 47.10% |
Question B2: Should mixed drinking be allowed
in beer parlours in Edmonton and the surrounding areas? |
| Ballot choice |
Votes |
% |
|
Yes |
1,076 |
88.78% |
|
No |
136 |
11.22% |
| Total votes |
1,212 |
100% |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined |
35 |
| 2,320 eligible electors, turnout 53.75% |
On October 30, 1957, a stand-alone plebiscite was held province wide in all 50 of the then current provincial electoral districts in Alberta. The government decided to consult Alberta voters to decide on liquor sales and mixed drinking after a divisive debate in the legislature. The plebiscite was intended to deal with the growing demand for reforming antiquated liquor control laws.[3]
The plebiscite was conducted in two parts. Question A, asked in all districts, asked the voters if the sale of liquor should be expanded in Alberta, while Question B, asked in a handful of districts within the corporate limits of Calgary and Edmonton, asked if men and women should be allowed to drink together in establishments.[2] Question B was slightly modified depending on which city the voters were in.[2]
Province wide Question A of the plebiscite passed in 33 of the 50 districts while Question B passed in all five districts. Clover Bar voted overwhelmingly in favour of the plebiscite. The district recorded average voter turnout almost being equal to the province wide 46% average.[2]
Clover Bar also voted on question B2 with a number of residents living inside the electoral district within the corporate limits of Edmonton. Residents voted for mixed drinking with a super majority. Turnout for question B was also quite high; Edmonton residents averaged a significantly higher turnout than those who lived outside the city.[2]
Official district returns were released to the public on December 31, 1957.[2] The Social Credit government in power at the time did not consider the results binding.[4] However the results of the vote led the government to repeal all existing liquor legislation and introduce an entirely new Liquor Act.[5]
Municipal districts lying inside electoral districts that voted against the plebiscite were designated Local Option Zones by the Alberta Liquor Control Board and considered effective dry zones. Business owners who wanted a licence had to petition for a binding municipal plebiscite in order to be granted a licence.[6]
