California Proposition 2, Alcoholic Liquor Prohibition Initiative (1916)

California Proposition 2
Election date November 7, 1916
Topic Alcohol
Status d Defeated
Type Constitutional amendment	Origin Citizens

California Proposition 2 was on the ballot as an initiated constitutional amendment in California on November 7, 1916. It was defeated.

A “yes” vote supported prohibiting the possession, sale, or gift of alcoholic liquor in public places, defining alcoholic liquor, and establishing penalties for violations of these laws.

A “no” vote opposed prohibiting the possession, sale, or gift of alcoholic liquor in public places, defining alcoholic liquor, and establishing penalties for violations of these laws.

Election results

California Proposition 2
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		461,039	47.69%
No		505,783	52.31%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Proposition 2 was as follows:

“

Initiative Amendment

”

Ballot summary

The ballot summary for this measure was:

“

Adding Article XXIV-A to Constitution. Defines alcoholic liquor; after January 1 1918, prohibits its possession, gift or sale in saloon, dramshop, dive, store, hotel, restaurant, club, dance-hall or other place of public resort; prohibits sale, accepting or soliciting orders anywhere, except in pharmacies for certain purposes and by manufacturers on premises where manufactured, under delivery and quantity restrictions. Owner or manager of all such places to prevent drinking therein. Restricts transportation. Payment Internal Revenue tax prima facie evidence of violation. Prescribes and authorizes penalties. Neither repeals nor limits state or local prohibition, or Article XXIV of Constitution.

”

Full Text

The full text of this measure is available here.

Support

Arguments

You can share campaign information or arguments, along with source links for this information, at editor@ballotpedia.org.

Opposition

Arguments

• California Grape Protective Association: "Proposition No. 2 is NOT purely an anti-saloon measure. Proposition No. 2 would wipe out practically every legitimate avenue of distribution of California wines."
• James Madison, General Manager of the California Associated Raisin Company: "It tells the producers that they may make as much as they please, and the proceeds to place almost every obstacle in the way of allowing them to market what they produce. Its restrictions are such that only the well-to-do can avail themselves of the opportunity to purchase."
• United California Industries: "This so-called Anti-Saloon measure would make it a crime to serve a wine punch at a public reception...[it] would be equally disastrous to the vineyards, the breweries and all the other industries which Prohibition is seeking to destroy."

Path to the ballot

See also: Signature requirements for ballot measures in California

In California, the number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment is equal to 8 percent of the votes cast at the preceding gubernatorial election. For initiated amendments filed in 1916, at least 74,136 valid signatures were required.

See also

1916 Measures

• 1916 Measures
• Alcohol laws on the ballot
• 1916 legislative sessions

California

• California ballot measures
• California ballot measure laws

News and analysis

• Ballot measure lawsuits
• Ballot measure readability
• Ballot measure polls

External links

• California Voter Guide (November 1916)