Scottish Permissive Bill & Temperance Association (temperance association: 1858-1922: 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. Scotland already had a number of temperance groups, including the Scottish Temperance League founded in 1844, based in Glasgow, who believed in the power of anti-drink propaganda and temperance education and that legislation without a change of attitude was useless. In 1858 , the Scottish Permissive Bill Association was formed with the aim of following the Maine law legislation model.

By 1894, the Association was known as the Scottish Permissive Bill & Temperance Association with offices at 11 Bath Street, Glasgow, Scotland, and later at Douglas Street, Glasgow. In 1866, the Association published its own newspaper, The Social Reformer, that was renamed The Reformer in 1885, and to The Scottish Reformer in 1892. It continued to be published until at least 1922. Other activities included public demonstrations, often co-ordinated with the Scottish Temperance Association , National Citizens Council , and the International Order of Good Templars: Grand Lodge of Scotland , who each took a geographic area of Scotland to organise.

The Scottish Permissive Bill & Temperance Association: Ladies Auxiliary was established by 1894 as the women's section of the Association. The Ladies Auxiliary held day schools, drawing room meetings and garden parties to help raise money for the Temperance cause. As well as paying subscriptions, members were encouraged to collect money for the cause within the various districts of Glasgow and a Collector was employed to do this by the Committee.

By 1918, the effect of the 1914-1918 World War was affecting the levels of money the Committee was raising, as people were giving their spare money the Red Cross.

In 1922 , the Scottish Permissive Bill & Temperance Association united with the Scottish Temperance League to form the Scottish Temperance & No Licence Union which aimed to continue collectively the work or both organisations. This included continuing the work of the Ladies Auxiliary.

From the guide to the Records of the Scottish Permissive Bill & Temperance Association, temperance organisation, Glasgow, Scotland, 1885-1922, (Glasgow University Archive Services)