Sunday Closing (Wales) Act 1881 facts for kids
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| Long title | An Act to prohibit the Sale of Intoxicating Liquors on Sunday in Wales. |
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| Citation | 44 & 45 Vict. c. 61 |
| Territorial extent | Wales |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 27 August 1881 |
| Repealed | 1 January 1911 |
| Other legislation | |
| Repealed by | Licensing (Consolidation) Act 1910 |
| Relates to | |
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Status: Repealed
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| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
The Sunday Closing (Wales) Act 1881 was a special law passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. This law made it illegal for all public houses (places where people could buy alcoholic drinks) in Wales to open on Sundays.
This Act was very important for Wales. It was the first time a law was made just for Wales since the 1500s. This showed that Wales was seen as a separate place with its own needs. The law was later cancelled in 1911.
Why Was the Sunday Closing Act Created?
This law was introduced by the Liberal Party government. This government was elected in 1880, and William Ewart Gladstone was the Prime Minister.
It was the first law since the 1500s that applied only to Wales. A similar law was suggested for England, but it was not approved by Parliament.
The 1881 Act did not include Monmouthshire at first. But during World War I, in 1915, the law was extended to cover Monmouthshire too.
What Was the Background of the Law?
The law came about because of groups like the temperance movement. These groups believed that people should drink less alcohol or no alcohol at all. Many nonconformist chapels (Protestant churches not part of the Church of England) in Wales also supported this idea.
Some historians say that public houses in Wales were becoming places where people joined the Conservative Party. This happened after earlier laws tried to control alcohol sales. Many working class men in Wales also wanted to limit when public houses could open.
However, the law had some unexpected results. Many private social clubs started to open. These clubs were not covered by the new law. So, the law did not seem to stop people from drinking or reduce drunkenness much.
When Was the Sunday Closing Act Ended?
The Sunday Closing (Wales) Act 1881 was officially cancelled in 1911. Its rules were then included in a new law called the Licensing (Consolidation) Act 1910. Even though the original Act was gone, the idea of Sunday closing for public houses in Wales continued.
Later, the Licensing Act 1961 allowed local areas in Wales to vote on Sunday closing. People could choose if they wanted to keep, remove, or bring back Sunday closing.
A vote happened across Wales in 1961. This vote led to Sunday closing being removed in places like Monmouthshire, Newport, Cardiff, Glamorgan, Swansea, Merthyr Tydfil, and Flintshire.
Another vote in 1968 ended Sunday closing in Brecknockshire, Radnorshire, and Denbighshire. The very last area to remove Sunday closing was Dwyfor in 1996. The need for these regular votes on Sunday opening in Wales was finally stopped by the Licensing Act 2003.
