Duke Wants Ontario To A Iter Liquor Law

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28939, 6 July 1959, Page 11

Duke Wants Ontario To A Iter Liquor Law

(Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON (Ontario), July 4. The Duke of Edinburgh yesterday asked when Ontario province was going to change its “old fashioned liquor laws and came under criticism from temperance organisations.

The subject came up during a conversation between the Duke and a Progressive Conservative member of the Ontario Legislature, the Canadian Press reported. “You’re one of those Government fellows,” the Duke said to the member for Middlesex, Mr Harry Allen, as he was presented. “When are you going to change these obsolete and old fashioned liquor laws?” asked the Duke. “Is this a command?” asked Mr Allen.

Canada, criticised the Duke’s remarks.

Mr Linton said that Canadians “are not able to handle liquor.” He said the Duke should have made a scientific study of drinking in Canada before criticising policies. “People who come over here from England had better look to their own country,” he said. “Since 1928, we have been modernising our liquor laws, and the result is a growth in alcoholism, marriage problems, and juvenile delinquency.” Mrs Perigoe observed that Ontario liquor laws “are plenty liberal.”

“Well, what are you going to do about it?" asked the Duke. “We’ll give it every consideration at the next session,” answered Mr Allen, ending the conversation.

It was reported that the Duke’s comment was prompted by an incident in Stratford on Thursday night when police ordered bars at the Stratford Shakespearean festival closed at 11.30 p.m„ shortening the reception which followed the Royal couple's visit to the theatre.

Ontario’s liquor laws, with the exception of large centres like Toronto, are based on the idea that the drinking of alcohol should be confined, to the home and even then in a limited amount. Later, the Rev. John Linton, general secretary of the Canadian Temperance Federation, and Mrs I. H. Perigoe, head of the Women's Christian Temperance Union in

It was understood that festival officials were warned charges would be laid unless the ruling was adhered to, the Canadian Press said.

Neither the Queen nor the Duke attended the reception. Most liquor laws in Ontario province, depending on local option, frown on “mixed” drinking and are designed to allow ‘men only” beer taverns. To buy a bottle of liquor or wine in Ontario a person must first get a provincial Government licence, costing a dollar (about 8s lid).

Spirits and wines are sold only at Government-operated stores where an application form must be filled in each time a purchase is made. No-one under 21 may buy alcoholic beverages. When a bottle of liquor is bought at a Government store, it must be taken directly home' Should police stop a purchaser and find the bottle is opened on the way, or that he is far from a reasonably direct route to his home, the purchaser can be charged with illegal possession of liquor.