| Date: | October 20, 1919 |
| Country: | Canada |
| Flag Year: | 1907 |
| Barwidth: | 250px |
| Part1 Subject: | Repeal of Ontario Temperance Act |
| Part1 Choice1: | Yes |
| Part1 Percentage1: | 32.4 |
| Part1 Choice2: | No |
| Part1 Percentage2: | 67.6 |
| Part2 Subject: | Sale of light beer through government agencies |
| Part2 Choice1: | Yes |
| Part2 Percentage1: | 35.2 |
| Part2 Choice2: | No |
| Part2 Percentage2: | 64.8 |
| Part3 Subject: | Sale of light beer at hotels |
| Part3 Choice1: | Yes |
| Part3 Percentage1: | 33.8 |
| Part3 Choice2: | No |
| Part3 Percentage2: | 66.2 |
| Part4 Subject: | Sale of liquor through government agencies |
| Part4 Choice1: | Yes |
| Part4 Percentage1: | 39.3 |
| Part4 Choice2: | No |
| Part4 Percentage2: | 60.7 |
A referendum was held in Ontario, Canada on October 20, 1919 (in conjunction with the 15th provincial election) on the legality of alcoholic beverages and the maintaining of prohibition. Prohibition had been passed by the provincial government in 1916 under the Ontario Temperance Act, though a clause required a referendum to be held in 1919 on whether the Act should be repealed and the previous licensing laws subsequently revived.[1] A subsequent Act in 1919 provided three further questions for consideration, and subsequent implementation on approval.[2] A majority voted against all four questions, and prohibition was maintained.
- Are you in favour of the repeal of the Ontario Temperance Act?
- Are you in favour of the sale of light beer containing not more than two and fifty-one hundredths per cent alcohol weight measure through Government agencies and amendments to the Ontario Temperance Act to permit such sale?
- Are you in favour of the sale of light beer containing not more than two and fifty-one hundredths per cent alcohol weight measure in standard hotels in local municipalities that by a majority vote favour such sale and amendments to the Ontario Temperance Act to permit such sale?
- Are you in favour of the sale of spirituous and malt liquors through Government agencies and amendments to the Ontario Temperance Act to permit such sale?
Unlike past prohibition referendums, the four questions were binding upon receiving a majority vote.
| Question | Total votes | Yes | No | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | |||
| 1 | 1,141,595 | 369,434 | 32.4 | 772,161 | ||
| 2 | 1,142,900 | 401,893 | 35.2 | 741,007 | ||
| 3 | 1,142,613 | 386,680 | 33.8 | 755,933 | ||
| 4 | 1,142,894 | 449,370 | 39.3 | 693,524 | ||
As the majority voted no on all four questions, prohibition was not repealed.