Cameron Miranda
Canada's temperance movement, which began in the 1820s, initially targeted strong liquors, but by the 1840s, all alcoholic beverages were considered dangerous. The movement aimed to limit or ban alcohol consumption, which was believed to be responsible for many of society's problems. The Canada Temperance Act (Scott Act) of 1878 allowed local governments to hold votes on prohibition, and by 1917, all provinces except Quebec had prohibited alcohol sales. During World War I, the idea that it was shameful to drink while men sacrificed their lives overseas gained traction, and prohibition was enacted in most provinces. However, it was short-lived and ended in 1927 with the Liquor Control Act, which allowed individual alcohol purchases but prohibited public drinking of full-strength alcohol.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Prohibition in Canada | First enacted on a provincial basis in Prince Edward Island in 1901 |
| Temperance movement | Began in the 1820s, initially concerned with the consumption of strong liquor |
| Temperance organizations | Dominion Alliance for the Total Suppression of the Liquor Traffic, Woman's Christian Temperance Union |
| Legislation | Canada Temperance Act (1864), Indian Act (1876), Liquor Control Act (1927) |
| Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) | Controls the sale, transportation, and delivery of alcohol within the province |
| Prohibition enforcement issues | Smuggling, bootlegging, speakeasies |
| Alcohol exemptions | Medicinal, religious, scientific purposes |
| First Nations and prohibitory alcohol laws | Reflected the false belief that Indigenous peoples were more prone to alcohol dependency |
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What You'll Learn
The temperance movement
The main temperance organizations that emerged were the Dominion Alliance for the Total Suppression of the Liquor Traffic and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU). The WCTU, established in 1874, was one of the largest and most effective anti-drink lobbies in Canada. It was a vehicle for contiguous reforms in public behaviour, the political environment, and social conditions. The temperance movement was also connected to other reform efforts of the time, such as the women's suffrage movement, and was motivated in part by Social Gospel beliefs.
The Canada Temperance Act (also known as the Scott Act) of 1878 gave local governments the power to hold votes on prohibition and ban the sale of alcohol. By 1917, all provinces except Quebec had prohibited alcohol sales. However, enforcement issues plagued the temperance movement, and local police often turned a blind eye to illegal liquor sales. The movement's efforts ultimately led to the enactment of prohibition in Canada during the First World War. However, prohibition in Canada was short-lived and ended in 1927 following the election, replaced by the Liquor Control Act.
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Prohibition's failure
Canada's prohibition was a result of generations of effort by temperance workers to close bars and taverns. The temperance movement in Canada, which began in the 1820s, was largely concerned with the consumption of strong liquor. By the 1840s, "total abstinence" temperance societies were the norm, and all alcoholic beverages were considered dangerous. The main temperance organizations that emerged at the beginning of the prohibition era in Canada were the Dominion Alliance for the Total Suppression of the Liquor Traffic and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union.
The Canada Temperance Act (Scott Act) of 1878 gave local governments the “local option” to ban the sale of alcohol. Prohibition was first enacted on a provincial basis in Prince Edward Island in 1901. It became law in the remaining provinces, as well as in Yukon and Newfoundland, during World War I. Liquor could be legally produced in Canada but not sold there, and it could be legally exported out of Canadian ports. This created a peculiar situation where smugglers could legally leave Canada with shiploads of alcohol destined for the United States, which had stricter prohibition laws.
Prohibition in Canada was short-lived and is considered a failure. It ended in 1927 following an election, and the Liquor Control Act (LCA) was passed. The Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) was created to enforce the LCA by "controlling the sale, transportation, and delivery" of alcohol within the province. The failure of prohibition in Canada can be attributed to several factors:
- Lack of Public Support: Most Canadians did not bother to vote for prohibition, and women were not allowed to vote at the time. The slim majority that prohibition won by was not enough to warrant an outright ban, especially given the low voter turnout.
- Weak Enforcement: Enforcement issues plagued the temperance movement. Local police knew who was selling alcohol but were divided in their loyalties. The sale of alcohol continued unabated, even in towns that voted in favour of prohibition.
- Crime and Smuggling: The lack of government support and weak enforcement allowed crime to thrive. Rum-running and bootlegging became a risky but lucrative business during prohibition, with smugglers taking advantage of Canada's unique position to supply alcohol to the United States.
- Loss of Support Post-World War I: Support for the temperance movement vanished following World War I. The changing social and political climate after the war, including the women's suffrage movement and a pushback against temperance by working-class organizations, led to a decline in support for prohibition.
- Inconsistent Legislation: Each province had its own laws regarding liquor control, making it challenging to implement a consistent national prohibition policy. The decentralization of prohibition in Canada made the issue more complex and less successful than in the United States.
- Loopholes and Exemptions: During prohibition, alcohol was still allowed for medicinal, religious, or scientific purposes, leading to widespread abuse of the system. Doctors wrote hundreds of thousands of prescriptions for alcohol, and some pharmacies acted as de facto liquor stores.
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Liquor Control Boards
Yes, there were liquor prohibition laws in Canada in the early 20th century. The temperance movement, which began in the 1820s, led to the enactment of prohibition laws across the country. The Dominion Alliance for the Total Suppression of the Liquor Traffic and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union were the main temperance organisations. The movement was connected to other reform efforts at the time, such as the women's suffrage movement.
Prohibition was first enacted on a provincial basis in Prince Edward Island in 1901. It became law in the remaining provinces, as well as Yukon and Newfoundland, during World War I. Most provincial laws were repealed in the 1920s, with Prince Edward Island being the last province to repeal prohibition in 1948.
During prohibition, liquor could be legally produced in Canada but not sold, leading to a thriving smuggling industry into the United States, which had stricter prohibition laws at the time.
After prohibition was repealed in Ontario in 1927, the Liquor Control Act was passed, authorising the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) to "control the sale, transportation and delivery" of alcohol within the province. The LCBO is a Crown agency that retails and distributes alcoholic beverages throughout the province. It was established in 1927 to enforce the Liquor Control Act and today operates over 650 liquor stores in Ontario. The LCBO enjoys a semi-monopoly on alcohol in the province and has a reputation for high prices. The board's pricing policies are designed to control alcohol consumption, generate revenue for the provincial and federal governments, and support the domestic alcohol industry.
The LCBO maintains an interdiction list of individuals who are not allowed to purchase alcohol. This list was originally a legal process imposed by a judge on those found to be "drunkards" but the board now maintains the list using its own standards. The list is circulated to all liquor stores and drinking establishments, as well as local and provincial police forces.
The LCBO's creation marked an easing of Ontario's temperance regime, as the sale, transportation, and delivery of alcohol were now regulated by a government agency. The board's policies have evolved over time, including the phasing out of liquor permit books in 1957 and a shift to a self-serve format in the 1970s.
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Prohibition's legacy
Canada's prohibition era was short-lived, ending in 1927, and it had a lasting impact on the country.
The temperance movement, which began in the 1820s, was the driving force behind prohibition in Canada. Initially, this movement focused on strong liquors, but by the 1840s, it had shifted to a stance of ""total abstinence" from all alcoholic beverages. The movement was connected to other reform efforts of the time, including the women's suffrage movement, and it was influenced by the rise of evangelical denominations and working-class organizations. The main temperance organizations were the Dominion Alliance for the Total Suppression of the Liquor Traffic and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. These groups lobbied governments to enact prohibitory laws and advance the cause of temperance.
During the prohibition era, "speakeasies," or "blind pigs," which sold alcohol, were common, and they were often hidden within hotels, stores, or restaurants. The prohibition of alcohol also led to a rise in rum-running and bootlegging, particularly in British Columbia and along the border with the United States. Smuggling was often accompanied by violence, and political cartoons of the time depicted the odd situation of Canadian smugglers supplying alcohol to their "dry" American neighbours.
The enforcement of prohibition laws was challenging, and even in towns that voted in favour of prohibition, the liquor trade often continued to flourish. The lack of government support for prohibition led to poor legislation and weak enforcement, which allowed crime to thrive. Additionally, during prohibition, alcohol was still legally produced in Canada and exported from Canadian ports, which further complicated enforcement efforts.
The legacy of prohibition can be seen in how alcohol is sold in Canada today. The repeal of prohibition led to the creation of provincially-owned liquor stores and Liquor Control Boards, which regulate the sale and distribution of alcohol within each province. These agencies became a major source of revenue for provincial governments.
Another lasting impact of prohibition was the creation and perpetuation of negative stereotypes and myths surrounding Indigenous peoples and alcohol. First Nations were subject to prohibitory alcohol laws under the Indian Act of 1876, which reflected the false belief that Indigenous peoples were more prone to alcohol dependency. These laws remained in place until 1985, and they contributed to harmful stereotypes that continue to persist.
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Indigenous Peoples and alcohol
Alcohol prohibition laws in Canada disproportionately affected Indigenous Peoples. Under the Indian Act of 1876, First Nations people were subject to prohibitory alcohol laws. This legislation was an attempt by the Canadian government to facilitate the assimilation of Indigenous Peoples, as they had to become Canadian citizens through enfranchisement to possess alcohol. To be eligible for enfranchisement, Indigenous Peoples had to demonstrate sobriety. These laws were underpinned by the "firewater myth", a widespread false belief among North Americans that Indigenous Peoples were more prone to alcohol dependency. Sections of the Indian Act concerning liquor were only repealed in 1985.
The relationship between alcohol and Indigenous Peoples in Canada has a long history. As early as the mid-16th century, Aztecs were depicted drinking a fermented agave alcohol called pulque. Before the arrival of Columbus, Indigenous Peoples in Mexico and Central America had prepared over 40 alcoholic beverages derived from plants and plant extracts. However, the introduction and use of modern alcohol by European settlers as a means to influence Indigenous Peoples further complicated this relationship.
Indigenous youth in Canada are more likely to use alcohol than non-Indigenous youth. A study of 1700 Indigenous and 22,800 non-Indigenous youth in Grades 9-12 found that Indigenous youth had higher odds of past-year drinking. The reasons for this disparity are complex and multifaceted. Social factors that potentially contribute to this include marginalization, discrimination, intergenerational trauma, financial hardship, and familial separation. Adverse childhood experiences, such as sexual and physical abuse, household mental illness, and household substance use, have also been linked to higher rates of substance use among Indigenous youth.
The cycle of trauma and addiction is a significant issue within Indigenous communities across Canada. Research has found that many survivors of residential school abuse became caught in alcohol and drug addiction. A review of case files for 127 residential school survivors who underwent clinical drug assessments in British Columbia revealed that approximately 82% reported that their substance use behaviours began after attending residential schools, and roughly 78% had abused alcohol. Additionally, around 38% of participating First Nations adults in the First Nations Regional Longitudinal Health Survey reported experiencing at least one instance of racism in the past year.
The impact of poverty on substance abuse, including alcohol addiction, cannot be overlooked. Indigenous Peoples in Canada are more likely to experience financial struggles due to historical disadvantages and systemic issues. Poverty increases stress, feelings of hopelessness, and decreases self-esteem, social support, and access to healthcare, all of which can contribute to a higher risk of substance use disorders.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there was a liquor prohibition law in Canada. The Canada Temperance Act (Scott Act) of 1878 gave local governments the “local option” to ban the sale of alcohol.
Prohibition was first enacted on a provincial basis in Prince Edward Island in 1901. It became law in the remaining provinces, as well as in Yukon and Newfoundland, during the First World War.
Prohibition was ended in 1927 following an election, and the Liquor Control Act (LCA) was passed. The Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) was created to enforce the LCA by "controlling the sale of liquor to the public and the regulation of the places in which people could drink their booze."
