Ohio Minimum Age for Alcohol Consumption Initiative (1983)

Ohio Minimum Age for Alcohol Consumption Initiative
Election date November 8, 1983
Topic Alcohol laws
Status Defeated
Type Initiated constitutional amendment	Origin Citizens

Ohio Minimum Age for Alcohol Consumption Initiative was on the ballot as an initiated constitutional amendment in Ohio on November 8, 1983. It was defeated.

A "yes" vote supported raising the minimum age for the consumption of beer to 21 years old.

A "no" vote opposed raising the minimum age for the consumption of beer to 21 years old.

Election results

Ohio Minimum Age for Alcohol Consumption Initiative
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		1,386,959	41.37%
No		1,965,469	58.63%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Minimum Age for Alcohol Consumption Initiative was as follows:

“

To amend Article XV by adding a new Section 11 of the Constitution of the State of Ohio Present Ohio law prohibits persons under twenty one from purchasing or consuming any intoxicating liquor. The present law also prohibits persons under nineteen from purchasing or consuming beer. This proposed amendment would: Prohibit anyone under age 21 from consuming or possessing any alcoholic beverage. Prohibit anyone from furnishing alcoholic beverages to anyone under the age of 21. Invalidate the present statutory law which allows a parent or legal guardian to furnish alcoholic beverages to a person under 21 years. Define alcoholic beverage as any beverage containing ½ of 1% of alcohol or more by weight. Not apply to sacramental or medical consumption. Require the general assembly to pass laws imposing penalties for violating this section. Shall the proposed amendment be adopted?

”

Path to the ballot

See also: Signature requirements for ballot measures in Ohio

An initiated constitutional amendment is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends a state's constitution. Eighteen (18) states allow citizens to initiate constitutional amendments.

In Ohio, the number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment is equal to 10% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. A simple majority vote is required for voter approval.

Ohio also requires initiative sponsors to submit 1,000 signatures with the initial petition application. Ohio has a signature distribution requirement, which requires that signatures be gathered from at least 44 of Ohio's 88 counties. Petitioners must gather signatures equal to a minimum of half the total required percentage of the gubernatorial vote in each of the 44 counties. Petitions are allowed to circulate for an indefinite period of time. Signatures are due 125 days prior to the general election that proponents want the initiative on.

See also

1983 Measures

• 1983 Measures
• Alcohol laws on the ballot
• 1983 legislative sessions

Ohio

• Ohio ballot measures
• Ohio ballot measure laws

News and analysis

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

External links

• Cleveland State University Law Library, "Ohio Constitution - Law and History: Table of Proposed Amendments," June 2, 2023