Spirits in Victoria   
An Inspection of Liquor in the 1860's
A Brief History
PART THREE
   
    Public interest groups such as Temperance societies began to form in the 1850's and would become a permanent fixture in the battle against alcohol in the years that followed. In later part of the decade the Gold Rush hit in the Fraser Valley and a population boom occured, though it was not only miners that came in to town. The Sons of Temperance and American Prohibition Society opened chapters Victoria in 1859. These groups were not; however,the first to call for a general ban on alcohol, churches and church groups had desired the removal of liquor since the early 1820's. 10 It was during the later part of the decade that the temperance groups began to push for the legislative body to create laws that would make it illegal to do business in booze. 11

    In 1860 the Temperance groups got their way and the selling of alcohol was made illegal in the Colony of Vancouver Island. Actually, the law that was passed only made it illegal for the natives to buy liquor from the white people. The white population was still free to drink as they pleased and there were many that did just that. The 1860 Law was also very hard to enforce. In Contact and Conflict, author Robin Fisher remarks that "all this activity in the courts seemed to make little impact on the liquor trade; in fact, it was claimed that selling liquor to the Indians had become one of the most profitable businesses in Victoria ." 12

GROUP OUTSIDE SALOON  
A group of people outside Adelphi saloon
-photo courtesy of BC Archives

    Throughout the 1860's the appeal of liquor remained the same as it always had. It was desired by both the Natives and the whites alike. With the drastic increase in Victoria's population and it's often harsh way of life, the saloons became popular retreats. In a correspondence letter with the Hudsons Bay Company, the governor of the Vancouver Island Colony, Albert E. Kennedy, voices his disgust over the fact that Victoria has "no less than eighty-five licenced houses for retail of drink," and "twenty additional wholesale or Gallon houses." 13

    Drinking was an activity that could be enjoyed by all of the people in the colony. Liquor was enjoyed by Indians and the whites alike. "Drinking cut across all social lines and liquor was prominent at all social functions." (14) An ever-changing population with their an "here today gone tomorrow attitude "created an atmosphere in Victoria where alcohol was one of the few constants. Such a lifestyle led to problems with moral and social "evils" that some felt needed to be rid of. The need for some control of the liquor business was realized and as the colony proceeded towards the turn of the century change was inevitable.

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