1957 Alberta Liquor Plebiscite
Encyclopedia
The 1957 Alberta Liquor Plebiscite was the fourth province-wide plebiscite conducted in Alberta
, Canada
, and it was held on October 30, 1957. Unlike the other three plebiscites held in Alberta, the 1957 vote was not held in conjunction with a provincial election. At the time, the Alberta Liquor Control Board operated only a few stores from which liquor could be legally purchased. The plebiscite asked voters in every district if they were in favour of adding extra ALCB outlets.
The vote to hold a plebiscite had carried on a recorded division by a single vote after much debate.
In addition to the liquor controversy growing in the province. A decision was also made in the legislature to hold a plebiscite to establish a compulsory egg marketing board. That plebiscite was originally to be held in June 1957, but Leonard Halmrast
the Minister of Agriculture decided to hold at a similar date to liquor plebiscite so that Egg producers could be enumerated at the same time as voters for the liquor plebiscite to save costs. That decision later led to controversy when numerous producers were missed after the plan was defeated in a close vote.
, and Edmonton
, as well as the parts of Gleichen, Banff-Cochrane
and Clover Bar
, that were within the Calgary and Edmonton city limits, a second question was put on the ballot asking if "mixed drinking" should be permitted in beer parlours. Men and women had not been allowed to drink together in Albertan bars since 1928, four years after Prohibition
has been repealed.
The Alberta government abolished gender-based segregation of bars in the rest of the province (without an additional plebiscite) in 1967.
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and it was held on October 30, 1957. Unlike the other three plebiscites held in Alberta, the 1957 vote was not held in conjunction with a provincial election. At the time, the Alberta Liquor Control Board operated only a few stores from which liquor could be legally purchased. The plebiscite asked voters in every district if they were in favour of adding extra ALCB outlets.
Background
The province of Alberta decided to hold a plebiscite after divisive debate in the legislature on the need to deal with demands to loosen regulatory restrictions to liquor that had been in place since the prohibition era.The vote to hold a plebiscite had carried on a recorded division by a single vote after much debate.
In addition to the liquor controversy growing in the province. A decision was also made in the legislature to hold a plebiscite to establish a compulsory egg marketing board. That plebiscite was originally to be held in June 1957, but Leonard Halmrast
Leonard Halmrast
Leonard Christian Halmrast was a provincial politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1945 to 1967 sitting with the Social Credit caucus in government...
the Minister of Agriculture decided to hold at a similar date to liquor plebiscite so that Egg producers could be enumerated at the same time as voters for the liquor plebiscite to save costs. That decision later led to controversy when numerous producers were missed after the plan was defeated in a close vote.
Question B
In CalgaryCalgary (provincial electoral district)
Calgary was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada that existed from 1905 to 1913 and was recreated from 1921 to 1959. The district returned from one to six members to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta...
, and Edmonton
Edmonton (provincial electoral district)
Edmonton provincial electoral district existed in two incarnations from 1905 - 1909 and again from 1921 - 1955. The district was created when Alberta first became a province....
, as well as the parts of Gleichen, Banff-Cochrane
Banff-Cochrane
Banff-Cochrane is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada. This riding is home to the popular tourist destination Banff National Park, environmental issues tend to dominate here....
and Clover Bar
Clover Bar (provincial electoral district)
-1944 general election:-1957 liquor plebiscite: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...
, that were within the Calgary and Edmonton city limits, a second question was put on the ballot asking if "mixed drinking" should be permitted in beer parlours. Men and women had not been allowed to drink together in Albertan bars since 1928, four years after Prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
has been repealed.
Results and impact
The province-wide question on new liquor store locations saw mixed results across the province: the more conservative rural areas voted overwhelmingly against, and urban areas voted overwhelmingly for. After the votes were counted, the "for" side won the plebiscite by a wide margin. The second question regarding mixed drinking in the major cities passed with an almost 4 to 1 margin. This was the second province-wide plebiscite in Alberta's history, and cost the province $355,309.62 to run.The Alberta government abolished gender-based segregation of bars in the rest of the province (without an additional plebiscite) in 1967.
Plebiscite results
| October 30, 1957 Alberta liquor plebiscite results | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question A: Do you approve additional types of outlets for the sale of beer, wine and spirituous liquor subject to a local vote? | ||||||||||
| Totals | For | % | Against | % | Total Votes | For/Against | Rejected | Eligible | Turn Out | |
| 171,786 | 63.92% | 96,963 | 36.08% | 268,749 | For 33/17 | 2,528 | 580,893 | 46.70% | ||
| Question B1: Should mixed drinking be allowed in beer parlours in Calgary and the surrounding areas? Question B2: Should mixed drinking be allowed in beer parlours in Edmonton and the surrounding areas? |
||||||||||
| Totals | For | % | Against | % | Total Votes | For/Against | Rejected | Eligible | Turn Out | |
| B1 Total | 49,789 | 81.13% | 11,578 | 18.87% | 61,367 | For 3/0 | 379 | 115,247 | 53.58% | |
| B2 Total | 49,721 | 76.09% | 15,625 | 23.91% | 65,346 | For 2/0 | 657 | 129,599 | 50.93% | |
| B Combined | 99,510 | 78.53% | 27,203 | 21.47% | 126,713 | For 5/0 | 1,036 | 244,846 | 52.18% | |
| Results Breakdown by District | ||||||||||
| District Name | For | % | Against | % | Total Votes | For/Against | Rejected | Eligible | Turn Out | |
| Acadia-Coronation Acadia-Coronation -1944 general election:-1957 liquor plebiscite: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... |
A | 1,526 | 53.92% | 1,304 | 46.08% | 2,830 | For | 48 | 5,404 | 53.26% |
| Alexandra | A | 908 | 46.60% | 1,083 | 54.40% | 1,991 | Against | 20 | 5,963 | 33.73% |
| Athabasca Athabasca (provincial electoral district) Athabasca was a provincial electoral district covering north east Alberta, Canada.The riding, was created in 1905 when Alberta first became a province... |
A | 1,161 | 64.11% | 650 | 35.89% | 1,811 | For | 62 | 5,774 | 32.44% |
| Banff-Cochrane Banff-Cochrane Banff-Cochrane is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada. This riding is home to the popular tourist destination Banff National Park, environmental issues tend to dominate here.... |
A | 2,324 | 78.33% | 643 | 21.67% | 2,967 | For | 37 | 6,237 | 48.16% |
| B1 | 115 | 87.12% | 17 | 12.88% | 132 | For | 0 | 242 | 54.55% | |
| Bonnyville Bonnyville (provincial electoral district) Bonnyville was a provincial electoral district in north east Alberta, Canada. It elected members to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from its creation in 1952 until 1997 when the riding was renamed Bonnyville-Cold Lake, to more accurately reflect the two largest population centres in the... |
A | 1,716 | 66.05% | 882 | 33.95% | 2,598 | For | 31 | 6,988 | 37.62% |
| Bow Valley-Empress Bow Valley-Empress -1944 general election:-1957 liquor plebiscite: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... |
A | 1,818 | 54.86% | 1,496 | 45.14% | 3,314 | For | 11 | 6,341 | 52.44% |
| Bruce Bruce (Alberta provincial electoral district) -1944 general election:-1957 liquor plebiscite: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... |
A | 980 | 36.69% | 1,691 | 63.31% | 2,671 | Against | 21 | 6,108 | 44.07% |
| Calgary Calgary (provincial electoral district) Calgary was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada that existed from 1905 to 1913 and was recreated from 1921 to 1959. The district returned from one to six members to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta... |
A | 47,382 | 77.41% | 13,830 | 22.59% | 61,212 | For | 391 | 114,986 | 53.57% |
| B1 | 49,669 | 81.12% | 11,561 | 18.88% | 61,230 | For | 379 | 114,986 | 53.58% | |
| Camrose Camrose (provincial electoral district) -1944 general election:-1957 liquor plebiscite: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... |
A | 1,378 | 32.84% | 2,818 | 67.16% | 4,196 | Against | 12 | 7,721 | 54.50% |
| Cardston Cardston (provincial electoral district) Cardston was a provincial electoral district in southern Alberta, Canada.The riding was created in when Alberta first became a province in 1905.The riding has always occupied the most southern portion of the province along the Canada / United States border... |
A | 473 | 20.94% | 1,786 | 79.06% | 2,259 | Against | 13 | 4,296 | 52.89% |
| Clover Bar Clover Bar (provincial electoral district) -1944 general election:-1957 liquor plebiscite: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... |
A | 3,035 | 67.87% | 1,437 | 32.13% | 4,472 | For | 75 | 9,655 | 47.10% |
| B2 | 1,076 | 88.78% | 136 | 11.22% | 1,212 | For | 35 | 2,320 | 53.75% | |
| Cypress Cypress (provincial electoral district) -1944 general election:-1957 liquor plebiscite: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... |
A | 1,090 | 44.87% | 1,339 | 55.13% | 2,429 | Against | 18 | 5,361 | 46.64% |
| Didsbury Didsbury (provincial electoral district) Didsbury is a former provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. The electoral district returned a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1909 to 1963.- Members of the Legislative Assembly :-1944 general election:... |
A | 1,356 | 40.88% | 1,961 | 59.12% | 3,317 | Against | 34 | 6,535 | 51.28% |
| Drumheller Drumheller (provincial electoral district) Drumheller was a provincial electoral district in the Canadian province of Alberta represented in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1930 to 1963 and again from 1971 to 1997.-History:... |
A | 1,597 | 62.70% | 950 | 37.30% | 2,547 | For | 14 | 5,377 | 47.63% |
| Edmonton Edmonton (provincial electoral district) Edmonton provincial electoral district existed in two incarnations from 1905 - 1909 and again from 1921 - 1955. The district was created when Alberta first became a province.... |
A | 46,219 | 71.98% | 17,994 | 28.02% | 64,213 | For | 620 | 127,279 | 50.94% |
| B2 | 48,645 | 75.85% | 15,485 | 24.15% | 64,134 | For | 622 | 127,279 | 50.88% | |
| Edson Edson (provincial electoral district) Edson was a provincial electoral district in the Canadian province of Alberta represented in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1913 to 1986.-History:The electoral district was created during the 1913 Alberta general election from all of Lac St... |
A | 2,222 | 82.08% | 485 | 17.92% | 2,707 | For | 17 | 7,823 | 34.82% |
| Gleichen | A | 1,440 | 61.02% | 920 | 38.98% | 2,360 | For | 13 | 4,885 | 48.58% |
| B1 | 5 | 100.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 5 | For | 0 | 19 | 26.32% | |
| Grande Prairie Grande Prairie (provincial electoral district) Grande Prairie was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. It was mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1930 to 1993.-1957 liquor plebiscite:... |
A | 1,462 | 58.57% | 1,034 | 41.43% | 2,496 | For | 9 | 8,907 | 28.12% |
| Grouard Grouard (electoral district) Grouard was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. It was mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1913 to 1971.-1957 liquor plebiscite:... |
A | 1,388 | 69.99% | 595 | 30.01% | 1,983 | For | 48 | 8,426 | 24.10% |
| Hand Hills Hand Hills (electoral district) Hand Hills was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. It was mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1913 to 1963.-1957 liquor plebiscite:... |
A | 1,669 | 57.87% | 1,215 | 42.13% | 2,884 | For | 19 | 5,504 | 52.74% |
| Lac La Biche Lac La Biche (provincial electoral district) Lac La Biche was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. It was mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1952 to 1971.-1957 liquor plebiscite:... |
A | 1,059 | 66.15% | 542 | 33.85% | 1,601 | For | 9 | 4,678 | 34.42% |
| Lac Ste. Anne Lac Ste. Anne (electoral district) Lac Ste. Anne was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. It was mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1909 to 1971.-1957 liquor plebiscite:... |
A | 1,507 | 70.16% | 641 | 29.84% | 2,148 | For | 54 | 6,482 | 33.97% |
| Lacombe Lacombe (provincial electoral district) -1905 general election:-1957 liquor plebiscite: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... |
A | 1,205 | 37.47% | 2,011 | 62.53% | 3,216 | Against | 52 | 6,302 | 51.86% |
| Leduc Leduc (provincial electoral district) -1905 general election:-1957 liquor plebiscite: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... |
A | 1,701 | 62.95% | 1,001 | 37.05% | 2,702 | For | 10 | 6,996 | 38.77% |
| Lethbridge Lethbridge (provincial electoral district) Lethbridge was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada.The riding has existed twice. The first incarnation was in 1905 when Alberta first became a province. Lethbridge covered a large patch of southern Alberta, It was broken into Lethbridge District and Lethbridge City in 1909... |
A | 4,012 | 49.34% | 4,119 | 50.66% | 8,131 | Against | 66 | 15,974 | 51.32% |
| Little Bow | A | 1,584 | 51.50% | 1,492 | 48.50% | 3,076 | For | 1 | 5,715 | 53.84% |
| Macleod Macleod (provincial electoral district) Macleod is a former provincial electoral district that existed from 1905 to 2004 in the province of Alberta.-1905 general election:-1957 liquor plebiscite:... |
A | 1,892 | 49.78% | 1,909 | 50.22% | 3,801 | Against | 46 | 7,476 | 51.46% |
| Medicine Hat Medicine Hat (provincial electoral district) Medicine Hat is an Albertan provincial electoral district, covering most of the city of Medicine Hat.Under the Alberta electoral boundary re-distribution of 2004, the constituency covers the portion of the city north of the South Saskatchewan River, the Trans-Canada Highway and Carry Drive... |
A | 2,728 | 50.04% | 2,724 | 49.96% | 5,452 | For | 98 | 12,586 | 44.10% |
| Okotoks-High River Okotoks-High River Okotoks-High River was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. The district was mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1930 to 1971.... |
A | 2,088 | 62.18% | 1,270 | 37.82% | 3,358 | For | 33 | 6,602 | 51.36% |
| Olds Olds (provincial electoral district) Olds was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. The district was mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1909 to 1963. The district was combined with the Didsbury electoral district to form Olds-Didsbury... |
A | 1,164 | 38.24% | 1,880 | 61.76% | 3,044 | Against | 32 | 7,332 | 41.95% |
| Peace River Peace River (provincial electoral district) Peace River is a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. The district is mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta using the first past the post method of voting... |
A | 1,871 | 68.09% | 877 | 31.91% | 2,748 | For | 14 | 10,020 | 27.57% |
| Pembina Pembina (Alberta provincial electoral district) Pembina was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. It was mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1909 to 1971.-1957 liquor plebiscite:... |
A | 1,375 | 52.12% | 1,263 | 47.88% | 2,638 | For | 75 | 7,240 | 37.47% |
| Pincher Creek-Crowsnest Pincher Creek-Crowsnest Pincher Creek-Crowsnest was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. It was mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1940 to 1993.-1957 liquor plebiscite:... |
A | 1,656 | 65.87% | 858 | 34.13% | 2,514 | For | 9 | 6,009 | 41.99% |
| Ponoka Ponoka (provincial electoral district) Ponoka was a provincial electoral district in the Canadian province of Alberta represented in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1905 to 1986.-History:... |
A | 1,280 | 46.04% | 1,500 | 53.96% | 2,780 | Against | 53 | 6,317 | 44.88% |
| Red Deer Red Deer (provincial electoral district) Red Deer was a provincial electoral district representing the city of Red Deer, Alberta in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1905 to 1986... |
A | 3,565 | 56.88% | 2,703 | 43.12% | 6,268 | For | 80 | 14,151 | 44.86% |
| Redwater Redwater (provincial electoral district) Redwater was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada from 1940 until 1971 and again from 1993 until 2004.-MLAs:The district elected the following members to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta:-1957 liquor plebiscite:... |
A | 1,589 | 76.28% | 494 | 23.72% | 2,083 | For | 17 | 5,838 | 35.97% |
| Rocky Mountain House Rocky Mountain House (electoral district) Rocky Mountain House is a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. The district is one of 83 current districts mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta using the first past the post method of voting since 1959... |
A | 1,286 | 52.58% | 1,160 | 47.42% | 2,446 | For | 7 | 5,950 | 41.23% |
| Sedgewick Sedgewick (provincial electoral district) Sedgewick was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada from 1909 until 1963-MLAs:The district elected the following members to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta:-Results:-1957 liquor plebiscite:... |
A | 1,362 | 44.39% | 1,706 | 55.61% | 3,068 | Against | 9 | 5,921 | 51.97% |
| Spirit River Spirit River (electoral district) Spirit River was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. It was mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1930 to 1993.-1957 liquor plebiscite:... |
A | 762 | 53.81% | 654 | 46.19% | 1,416 | For | 29 | 6,160 | 23.46% |
| St. Albert St. Albert (provincial electoral district) St. Albert formally styled Saint Albert is a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. The district is one of 83 current districts mandate to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta of Alberta, Canada.... |
A | 2,546 | 70.27% | 1,077 | 29.73% | 3,623 | For | 92 | 8,184 | 45.39% |
| St. Paul St. Paul (provincial electoral district) St. Paul was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. It was mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1913 to 1993.-1957 liquor plebiscite:... |
A | 1,321 | 58.40% | 941 | 41.60% | 2,262 | For | 18 | 6,080 | 37.50% |
| Stettler Stettler (provincial electoral district) Stettler was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. It was mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1909 to 1993.-1957 liquor plebiscite:... |
A | 1,765 | 49.82% | 1,785 | 50.28% | 3,550 | Against | 9 | 6,743 | 52.78% |
| Stony Plain Stony Plain (electoral district) Stony Plain originally styled Stonyplain is a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. The district is mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta using the first past the post method of voting. From 1926 to 1957 Single Transferable Vote was used in the... |
A | 2,372 | 72.01% | 922 | 27.99% | 3,294 | For | 38 | 8,663 | 38.64% |
| Taber Taber (provincial electoral district) Taber was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. It was mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.-1957 liquor plebiscite:... |
A | 941 | 32.86% | 1,923 | 67.14% | 2,864 | Against | 35 | 6,627 | 43.75% |
| Vegreville Vegreville (provincial electoral district) Vegreville was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. It was mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1909 to 1993.-1957 liquor plebiscite:... |
A | 1,187 | 56.04% | 931 | 43.96% | 2,118 | For | 32 | 5,795 | 37.10% |
| Vermillion | A | 1,258 | 53.92% | 1,075 | 46.08% | 2,333 | For | 15 | 5,758 | 40.79% |
| Wainwright Wainwright (provincial electoral district) Wainwright was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. The district was mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.-1957 liquor plebiscite:... |
A | 1,631 | 49.35% | 1,674 | 50.65% | 3,305 | Against | 33 | 6,897 | 48.40% |
| Warner Warner (provincial electoral district) Warner was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. It was mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.-1957 liquor plebiscite:... |
A | 762 | 35.26% | 1,399 | 64.74% | 2,161 | Against | 21 | 5,197 | 41.99% |
| Wetaskiwin Wetaskiwin (provincial electoral district) Wetaskiwin is a former provincial electoral district in Alberta that existed from 1905 to 1971.-1905 general election:-1957 liquor plebiscite:... |
A | 1,773 | 48.78% | 1,892 | 51.62% | 3,665 | Against | 9 | 7,650 | 48.03% |
| Willingdon | A | 1,400 | 76.63% | 427 | 23.37% | 1,827 | For | 19 | 5,979 | 30.88% |