Cardston ends booze ban

By Lethbridge Herald on September 14, 2023.

Cardston town council has voted by a 5-2 margin to allow alcohol sales.
Cardston is home to the first temple built by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Canada and has been dry for 121 years.
But council popped the cork on change on Tuesday by allowing liquor service at restaurants and recreation facilities including the town golf course.
The law vote does not allow the establishment such venues as bars or liquor stores, however.
A slim majority of residents supported booze sales in a non-binding plebiscite held in the spring. Of residents who voted in the plebiscite, 494 were in favour and 431 opposed.
The changes mean sit-down restaurants that primarily serve food will be able to offer liquor sales. But off-sales in orders taken out of restaurants won’t be allowed.
In March of 2022 the Town of Raymond asked residents if they wanted to have licensed restaurants sell alcohol in that community. The licenses would specifically have been for sale and consumption of alcohol on licensed premises that serve the public where food is the primary source of business.
A 6-1 vote by town council in April of last year saw the town keep in place its 120-year-old ban on alcohol sales.
A survey of town residents showed 52 per cent were against changing the Raymond liquor policy.
Cardston, founded by Charles Ora Card, was first settled in 1887.

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