The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-05-15
GOVERNMENT HAS
LIQUOR CONTROL IN
BRITISH COLUMBIA

Victoria, b, c., May s.-tBy Cana
dian Pressl-With the coming into
force of the British Columbia Liquor
Act, the province energies from "A
three and half year "dry" period /
The present act Is the result of the ,
referendum taken on October 20 last /
throughout the province. when the /
people cmphatically voted for the sale |
of liquor in sealed packages by tho |
government. The majority in favor
oC repeating the prohibition act was
about 10000. The liquor act will be
put into force when the commission
crs make desired arrangements which
are expected TO be completed within
several weeks,
The prohibition act, which closed
the bars and all public drinking places
throughout the province, came into
force on the first day of October 1917,
during the war, when the people, by
q small majority. voted to prohibit the
sale of liquor except by government
dispensaries. In order to purchase
liquor under the prohibition act it was
necessary TO first obtain a prescrip-
tion from medicinal doctor for which
a fee of 81 was charged. The maxi
mum quantity purchasable from q gey.
eminent dispensary was two gallons
of liquor. So great was the rush on
the dispensares and so many pre-
scriptions We're being issued, that the
government at the session Of the leg.
islature in 1920 amended the prohibi-
ton act prohibiting the sale by gov
ernment dispensaries of more than
eight ounces on a doctors prescrip-
ton.
In 1919 a move was made TO have
the prohibition act repealed and this
effort continued until the government
agreed to submit the question Of fu-
ture liquor legislation to the people. A
moderation league was organized TO
work for the repeal of the act, the OBJ
ject Of the organization being to OBJ
tain the sale Of liquor under govern
mont control. 1t was asserted that
bootlegging was rampant throughout
the province and that measure which
would permit of the sale of liquor
under proper control, would be pref
cradle to the prohibition act. The pro-
hibitionists fought for the retention Of
the prohibition act, but the modera-
tionists won.
At the last session of the legisla-
ture which closed but a few weeks
ago, the new liquor act was passed,
following weeks of discussion. 1t will
be administered by a board of three
appointed by the government.
Under the, British Columbia liquor
act, government stores are established
throughout the province for the sale
of liquor. These stores are admins
tered by the liquor control board and
each vendor is an employe Of the
board. Sales must only be made to
those persons holding a government
permit for the purchase of liquor, and
this permit alone with n written order
for liquor must be presented at the
time OF purchase. Delivery of liquor
can only be made in sealed packages
and consumption of liquor on store
premises is not allowed. Liquor stores
will not remain open for more than
eight hours a day.
Persons applying for liquor permit
must be of the full age of 2l years
and have resided in the province for
permit limited to a single purchase
OF liquor is 80 cents. This entities
the purchaser to buy maximum
quantity of two quarts Of liquor other
than malt liquor or l2 quarts Of malt
liquor. No person is allowed to OBJ
tain more than 10 single purchase per.
mits in any one year A permit must
not be transferred. The liquor control
board has power to cancel permits. rs
has also a justice Of those convicted
of a violation of the liquor act.
Drunkenness under the act will not
be permitted, and no person shall per-
nit drunkenness to take place in any
house or on any premises which he is
the owner, or tenant. or occupant.
Liquor must not be given TO any per-
son under the influence Of liquor, nor
must an intoxicated person be allow.
ed 10 consume liquor on any prem.
ises. No person shall keep or con.
sumo liquor in any part Of an inn
other than a private guest-room. and
no person who is not bona.fide guest
of the inn shall be permitted to have
or consume liquor in an inn.
Every unauthorized person selling
fense TO Imprisonment with hard labor
FOR not less than six months and not
more than ~ months. and for q sec,
ond or subsequent otfeusc. imprson.
mcnt with hard labor for not less than
ono year nor more than - months
II the offender Is "a corporation a
81 600 fine IS imposed for the first OF
Tense and from So 900 To Sc 600 foi
the second and subsequent offcnscs
Penalties for other infracuons Of IN,
act are also provided.
The liquor board az It's first session
decided TO speed everything possibl,
IN connection with opening operation
by the board. in the province of on
tario. however directly the oppusit,
prevailed at an election held on Apri
~. Practically the same condition,
prevailed. Ontario went dry boz WA
times but after rehabilitation. adopt
ed an importation law under which i
was legal to import liquor ho the oaW
Tor home consumption. The pcopl
asked for % test of wet and dry sen
timtnt and ON the vote the pruvlnc