Liquor and the Liberal State: Drink and Order before Prohibition

Liquor was a tricky issue for municipal, provincial, and federal governments after Confederation, and Dan Malleck's book explores how the Ontario provincial governments takeover of liquor regulation in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries involved both discrete local politics and expansive constitutional questions. It demonstrates the challenges governments faced when dealing with the seemingly simple, but tremendously complicated, alcoholic beverage.

Format: Hardback
Length: 382 pages
Publication date: 08 April 2022
Publisher: University of British Columbia Press

Liquor, a multifaceted and contentious issue, has posed challenges for municipal, provincial, and federal governments since the formation of Confederation. In the context of Ontario, Liquor and the Liberal State delves into the historical transformation of liquor regulation, examining how the provincial government's takeover in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries intertwined discrete local politics with broader constitutional questions. Author Dan Malleck explores the dynamic interplay between notions of individual freedom, equality, and property rights as they were debated, challenged, and modified in response to the vocal prohibitionist movement and the equally vocal liquor industry. While the liquor licensing regime played a crucial role in establishing a vast patronage base for the governing Liberal Party, concerns arose about its constitutional authority. The drink question, once considered purely moral, became deeply political, shaping the establishment of judicial definitions of provincial and federal rights and ultimately contributing to the formation of the modern state.

Liquor, a complex and divisive subject, has presented challenges for municipal, provincial, and federal governments since the establishment of Confederation. In the realm of Ontario, Liquor and the Liberal State delves into the historical evolution of liquor regulation, exploring how the provincial government's takeover in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries intertwined discrete local politics with broader constitutional concerns. Author Dan Malleck examines the intricate interplay between notions of individual freedom, equality, and property rights as they were deliberated, contested, and reshaped in response to the fervent prohibitionist movement and the equally vocal liquor industry. While the liquor licensing regime played a pivotal role in fostering a substantial patronage base for the governing Liberal Party, apprehensions arose regarding its constitutional legitimacy. The drink question, once perceived as purely moral, metamorphosed into a politically charged domain, shaping the establishment of judicial interpretations of provincial and federal rights and ultimately contributing to the construction of the contemporary state.

Liquor, a multifaceted and contentious issue, has posed challenges for municipal, provincial, and federal governments since the formation of Confederation. In the context of Ontario, Liquor and the Liberal State delves into the historical transformation of liquor regulation, examining how the provincial government's takeover in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries intertwined discrete local politics with broader constitutional questions. Author Dan Malleck explores the dynamic interplay between notions of individual freedom, equality, and property rights as they were debated, challenged, and modified in response to the vocal prohibitionist movement and the equally vocal liquor industry. While the liquor licensing regime played a crucial role in establishing a vast patronage base for the governing Liberal Party, concerns arose about its constitutional authority. The drink question, once considered purely moral, became deeply political, shaping the establishment of judicial definitions of provincial and federal rights and ultimately contributing to the formation of the modern state.

Liquor, a complex and divisive subject, has presented challenges for municipal, provincial, and federal governments since the establishment of Confederation. In the realm of Ontario, Liquor and the Liberal State delves into the historical evolution of liquor regulation, exploring how the provincial government's takeover in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries intertwined discrete local politics with broader constitutional concerns. Author Dan Malleck examines the intricate interplay between notions of individual freedom, equality, and property rights as they were deliberated, contested, and reshaped in response to the fervent prohibitionist movement and the equally vocal liquor industry. While the liquor licensing regime played a pivotal role in fostering a substantial patronage base for the governing Liberal Party, apprehensions arose regarding its constitutional legitimacy. The drink question, once perceived as purely moral, metamorphosed into a politically charged domain, shaping the establishment of judicial interpretations of provincial and federal rights and ultimately contributing to the construction of the contemporary state.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780774867160