Nykterhetsfrågan i Hedemora
vad gjordes och sades av politiker, IOGT och lokaltidningen i samband med folkomröstningen 1922
The aim of this essay is to see how the IOGT, local politicians and the local newspaper acted in the city of Hedemora in Sweden in connection with the referendum held in 1922 whether or not to ban the use of alcoholic beverages. To accomplish this I have examined protocols from local IOGT-groups, the town council and the local newspaper Södra Dalarnes tidning. I find that the local IOGT not only worked with the issue of alcohol but served as an institution that deepened democracy and education in the local community through discussions, study circles and applying pressure on local politicians. The locally elected bodies in turn were generally in favour of the good work the IOGT did, although not always overwhelmingly so. Many of the local politicians that handled the issues of alcohol were themselves active members in organisations promoting absolutism. The local newspaper tried to be balanced in reporting about the issue involved, but as a whole they gave a little more space to those voices that were against a complete ban on alcohol in the referendum.