Since the introduction of parliamentarism in Sweden, six national referendums have been held. Legal provisions for referendums were introduced in 1922, one year after the adoption of universal suffrage. The Constitution of Sweden provides for binding referendums, but all referendums held as of 2012 have been non-binding. The latest referendum, on adopting the euro, was held on 14 September 2003.
The Société des alcools du Québec, often abbreviated and referred to as SAQ, is a provincial Crown corporation in Quebec responsible for the trade of alcoholic beverages within the province.
A local option is the ability of local political jurisdictions, typically counties or municipalities, to allow decisions on certain controversial issues based on popular vote within their borders. In practice, it usually relates to the issue of alcoholic beverage and marijuana sales.
A consultative and facultative referendum on continuing with prohibition was held in Norway on 18 October 1926. Partial prohibition had been effective since 1917, and following a 1919 referendum, spirits and dessert wine had also been banned.
An Ontario prohibition plebiscite was held on January 1, 1894, in conjunction with municipal elections under the Prohibition Plebiscite Act, on the legality of alcoholic beverages and the implementation of prohibition. Though the plebiscite passed, the results were non-binding and prohibition would not occur in Ontario until 1916.
An Ontario prohibition referendum was held on December 4, 1902, under the Liquor Act, on the legality of alcoholic beverages and the implementation of prohibition in the province. Though the referendum passed, a majority of half of the voters in the 1898 election did not support the motion and prohibition was not introduced. Prohibition would not occur in Ontario until 1916.
An Ontario prohibition referendum was held on October 20, 1919, on the repeal of the prohibition of alcoholic beverages. Prohibition had been passed by the provincial government in 1916 under the Ontario Temperance Act, though a clause required a referendum to be held on the issue after three years.
An Ontario prohibition referendum was held on April 18, 1921 concerning a ban on the importation of alcoholic beverages into Ontario.
In Iceland, Beer Day is celebrated every year on March 1, honoring the elimination of the 74-year prohibition of beer. Prohibition lasted from January 1, 1915 to March 1, 1989.
The 1923 Alberta prohibition plebiscite, held on November 5, 1923, was a province-wide plebiscite held in Alberta, Canada, to allow alcoholic beverages, triggered by an affirmative vote in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, based on the presentation of a 56,000-name petition in accordance with the requirements of the Citizens Referendum Law, initiative law, in force at the time. Prohibition was defeated by nearly 58 percent (58%) of the vote.
Prohibition in Iceland went into effect in 1915 and lasted, to some extent, until 1 March 1989. The ban had originally prohibited all alcohol, but from 1922 legalized wine and in 1935 legalized all alcoholic beverages except beer with more than 2.25% alcohol content. As in many other states with prohibition, "illegal brewing and smuggling of alcoholic beverages were widespread during the ban."
Three referendums were held in Switzerland during 1908. The first two were held on 5 July on amending the federal trade law and on banning absinthe. Both were approved by a majority of voters and cantons. The third was held on 25 October on adding article 24bis to the constitution, concerning hydroelectricity and electricity. It was also approved by a majority of voters and cantons.
A referendum on the introduction of prohibition was held in Newfoundland on 4 November 1915. It would prohibit unauthorised people from possessing or consuming any drinks with an alcohol content of more than 2%. The rules required that at least 40% of registered voters vote in favour of the proposal for it to pass. With 24,956 voting in favour, the quorum of 24,581 was narrowly passed and prohibition was introduced on 1 January 1917. It remained in force until 1924, after which a quota system for purchasing alcoholic drinks was introduced. This was scrapped on 31 March 1966.
A number of referendums on alcohol licensing were held in New Zealand between 2 December 1894 and 15 August 1987. Because of their differing questions and rules, these referendums can be broken down into three time periods divided by what options were presented to voters.
Oregon Ballot Mesure 7 (1940) was an initiative proposed for the general election on the November 5, 1940, ballot to repeal the present liquor law, and allow private sales, with regulation and tax. The official ballot title states its intention as "BILL REPEALING PRESENT LIQUOR LAW; AUTHORIZING PRIVATE SALE, LICENSED, TAXED." It was defeated with 309,183 no votes, to only 90,681 votes in favor. After the repeal of prohibition by the Twenty-first Amendment to the United States Constitution on December 5, 1933, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) was established to regulate and control the sales and consumption of alcoholic liquor in Oregon. At the time, the law stated that: "only the liquor control commission can import, purchase and sell alcoholic liquor containing over seventeen percent of alcohol, and that such liquor may not be consumed on the premises". The ballot measure attempted to ratify the OLCC's dominance of liquor and "permit liquor being consumed both on and off the premises where sold, depending on vendor's license." The commission, according to the proposed bill, was to issue numerous classes of wholesale and retail liquor licenses, while "levying privileges of sales taxes on the various classes of liquor business".
A four-part referendum on alcohol was held in the Faroe Islands on 6 November 1907. Voters were asked whether they approved of the trading and serving of beer, wine and spirits. All four proposals were rejected by voters. Following the referendum, prohibition was introduced in 1908 on all beverages with an alcohol content above 2%. An attempt in 1973 to overturn this ban was rejected in another referendum, but it was eventually lifted in 1992.
