Scottish Temperance League (temperance association: 1844-1922: Glasgow, Scotland)

In 1852, the first prohibition of drink laws were passed in the state of Maine, United States, influencing the cause for fighting alcoholic drink by national and municipal legislation to be taken up by the Manchester-based United Kingdom Alliance for the Suppression of the Traffic in Intoxicating Liquors . The Scottish Temperance League , founded in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1844 , believed in the power of anti-drink propaganda and temperance education. A 'rival' association, the Scottish Permissive Bill Association which later became the Scottish Permissive Bill & Temperance Association , was founded in Glasgow in 1858 for those who favoured the Maine Law. However, the Scottish Temperance League held the view that legislation without a change of attitude from the electorate would be less than useless and the two associations quarrelled for over a decade.

The League's first offices were at 108 Hope Street, Glasgow, but occupied premises at 226 West George Street, Glasgow, by the 1910s. The League was governed by an executive committee with sub-committees on finance, advocacy and publicity, and youth. Youth drunkenness was an increasing problem within the city and the temperance movement was eager to educate people from an early age as to the dangers of the 'demon drink'. The League was involved in producing and publishing a large number of tracts, pamphlets and materials promoting abstinence from alcohol.

Politically neutral and affiliated to the National Temperance Federation, London, the League concentrated on propaganda and education as a means of promoting temperance but still supported suitable political candidates when appropriate and petitioned Parliament to support relevant Bills. They maintained contact with the various temperance organisations of Scotland, working together to promote the district veto polls held in 1920 prohibition under the Temperance (Scotland) Act of 1913 to encouraging the electorate of a district to decide by majority vote the for the limitation of licences and local prohibition.

In 1922 , the League amalgamated with the Scottish Permissive Bill & Temperance Association to form the Scottish Temperance & No Licence Union, retaining the offices of the Scottish Temperance League. By 1924, this organisation had changed again to become the Scottish Temperance Alliance.

King, Elspeth Scotland Sober and Free: The Temperance Movement 1829-1979 ( Glasgow , 1979 )

From the guide to the Records of the Scottish Temperance League, temperance organisation, Glasgow, Scotland, 1846-1922, (Glasgow University Archive Services)