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
1,669
57.87%
No
1,215
42.13%
Total votes
2,884
100%
Rejected, spoiled and declined
19
5,504 eligible electors, turnout 52.74%
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.[4]
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.[3]
Province wide Question A of the plebiscite passed in 33 of the 50 districts, while Question B passed in all five districts. Hand Hills voted in favour of the proposal with a solid majority. Voter turnout in the district was good, as it was significantly higher than the province wide average of 46%.[3]
Official district returns were released to the public on December 31, 1957.[3] The Social Credit government in power at the time did not consider the results binding.[5] However the results of the vote led the government to repeal all existing liquor legislation and introduce an entirely new Liquor Act.[6]
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 license had to petition for a binding municipal plebiscite in order to be granted a license.[7]
