Dry County History
By: Whitney Ray
Updated: July 11, 2007
The end of prohibition ushered in an era of legal drinking for all Americans of age, but it didnt last long. By 1935 groups began to rally support for dry counties. The ideal really took off 1942 said Arkansas State University Professor Patrick Stewart.
"The movement that is an effective movement started in World War II, when youve got the military men going off fighting for freedom for the country and then counties ironically diminishing their freedom, at least their freedom to drink alcohol," said Stewart.
Benton County became dry in 1944. At that time, and for decades to follow, the law could have been put to a vote again if 15 percent of the voting population signed a petition. The 15 percent rule was effective in several Arkansas counties until 1985 when the percentage required to get the referendum on the ballot changed. After an act passed it 1985, people wanting to change their counties status would have to get 30 percent of the voters in their county to sign a petition. The percentage would change in 1993 to 38 percent.
