1922 Swedish prohibition referendum

1922 Swedish prohibition referendum

27 August 1922 (1922-08-27)
[_] For the introduction of a complete prohibition of alcoholic beverages [_] Against the introduction of a complete prohibition of alcoholic beverages
Results
Choice Votes % ✔️ In favour 889,132 49.01% ❌ Against 925,097 50.99% Valid votes 1,814,229 99.66% Invalid or blank votes 6,223 0.34% Total votes 1,820,452 100.00% Registered voters/turnout 3,302,483 55.12%
Results by county

A non-binding referendum on prohibition of liquor was held in Sweden on 27 August 1922. ^[1] The proposal to prohibit the sale of alcohol failed, with 51% voting against the change on a turnout of 55.1%. ^[1] Voting patterns were sharply divided between men and women, with 59% of women voting for the proposal and 59% of men voting against.

Campaign

There was plenty of campaigning from both sides, the best remembered^{[ citation needed ]} poster being one designed by artist Albert Engström, with the famous quote Kräftor kräva dessa drycker ("crayfish require these drinks").

Both proponents and opponents of the prohibition used similar arguments based around the breakdown of family life and Swedish society. ^[2]

Left: "Payday evening — vote yes!"; A poster of a drunk husband in front of his weeping wife and children, encouraging voters to vote for prohibition
Right: "Crayfish require these drinks — You must abstain from crayfish if you do not vote no on 27 August"; A famous poster by Albert Engström, encouraging voters to vote against prohibition

Result

Choice		Votes	%
For		889,132	49.01
Against		925,097	50.99
Total		1,814,229	100.00
Valid votes		1,814,229	99.66
Invalid/blank votes		6,223	0.34
Total votes		1,820,452	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		3,302,483	55.12
Source: Nationalencyklopedin [3]

By county

County	Total population				Male				Female
	For		Against		For		Against		For		Against
	Votes	%	Votes	%	Votes	%	Votes	%	Votes	%	Votes	%
Stockholm Municipality	21,928	13.5	141,034	86.5	7,680	10.0	69,503	90.0	14,248	16.6	71,531	83.4
Stockholm County	24,626	33.1	49,854	66.9	10,732	26.2	30,272	73.8	13,894	41.5	19,582	58.5
Uppsala County	21,834	49.0	22,749	51.0	9,719	40.7	14,179	59.3	12,115	58.6	8,570	41.4
Södermanland County	28,255	48.1	30,488	51.9	12,386	37.5	20,646	62.5	15,869	61.7	9,842	38.3
Östergötland County	50,686	56.3	39,422	43.7	22,418	45.7	26,598	54.3	28,268	68.8	12,824	31.2
Jönköping County	68,757	81.5	15,591	18.5	31,749	73.4	11,505	26.6	37,008	90.1	4,086	9.9
Kronoberg County	20,671	47.1	23,249	52.9	9,985	39.2	15,497	60.8	10,686	58.0	7,752	42.0
Kalmar County	24,590	41.9	34,059	58.1	11,389	33.5	22,624	66.5	13,201	53.6	11,435	46.4
Gotland County	6,875	37.3	11,550	62.7	3,010	28.4	7,573	71.6	3,865	49.3	3,977	50.7
Blekinge County	13,358	40.3	19,781	59.7	6,086	31.6	13,162	68.4	7,272	52.4	6,619	47.6
Kristianstad County	27,205	44.7	33,605	55.3	12,393	35.3	22,718	64.7	14,812	57.6	10,887	42.4
Malmöhus County	29,470	19.4	122,295	80.6	11,618	13.9	72,046	86.1	17,852	26.2	50,249	73.8
Halland County	10,872	25.1	32,501	74.9	4,692	19.4	19,503	80.6	6,180	32.2	12,998	67.8
Gothenburg and Bohus County	34,931	27.1	93,777	72.9	14,600	21.4	53,580	78.6	20,331	33.6	40,197	66.4
Älvsborg County	46,439	48.7	48,998	51.3	19,961	38.4	32,004	61.6	26,478	60.9	16,994	39.1
Skaraborg County	41,362	55.1	33,719	44.9	18,782	44.5	23,458	55.5	22,580	68.8	10,261	31.2
Värmland County	57,430	66.4	29,120	33.6	26,056	55.1	21,223	44.9	31,374	79.9	7,897	20.1
Örebro County	44,538	63.5	25,571	36.5	19,852	52.3	18,111	47.7	24,686	76.8	7,460	23.2
Västmanland County	30,831	58.8	21,631	41.2	13,782	47.8	15,077	52.2	17,049	72.2	6,554	27.8
Kopparberg County	60,587	70.3	25,538	29.7	27,424	59.6	18,568	40.4	33,163	82.6	6,970	17.4
Gävleborg County	58,434	70.5	24,438	29.5	26,233	59.2	18,088	40.8	32,201	83.5	6,350	16.5
Västernorrland County	58,597	78.4	16,159	21.6	28,654	70.8	11,803	29.2	29,943	87.3	4,356	12.7
Jämtland County	29,485	72.6	11,135	27.4	14,481	63.9	8,194	36.1	15,004	83.6	2,941	16.4
Västerbotten County	43,302	81.4	9,883	18.6	21,717	74.5	7,430	25.5	21,585	89.8	2,453	10.2
Norrbotten County	34,053	79.4	8,827	20.6	16,570	71.6	6,585	28.4	17,483	88.6	2,242	11.4
Total	889,116	49.0	924,974	51.0	401,969	40.9	579,947	59.1	487,147	58.5	345,027	41.5
Source: Förbudsomröstningens slutresultat [4]

See also

• Referendums in Sweden
• Alcohol in Sweden
• Swedish temperance movements

References

1. "Folkomröstningar 1922-2003" (in Swedish). Statistics Sweden. 21 December 2007. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
2. O’Hagan, Lauren Alex (2022). ""Alcohol is humanity's enemy!" Propaganda posters and the 1922 Swedish prohibition referendum". Scandinavian Journal of History: 1–27. doi: 10.1080/03468755.2022.2123037 . ISSN   0346-8755. S2CID   252301631.
3. "Folkomröstning: Tabell: Folkomröstningar i Sverige". Nationalencyklopedin (in Swedish). Retrieved 22 May 2011.(subscription required)
4. "Folkirorelse" (PDF). Nya Folkets röst.