Sunday Closing (Wales) Act 1881

The Sunday Closing (Wales) Act 1881 was a piece of legislation passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom that mandated the closure of public houses and other establishments selling alcohol in Wales on Sundays. The Act represented a significant victory for the temperance movement in Wales, which had long campaigned for restrictions on alcohol consumption.

The Act did not apply to the sale of alcohol for consumption off the premises, meaning that individuals could still purchase alcohol from grocers and off-licences on Sundays. Hotels were also permitted to serve alcohol to bona fide residents.

The implementation of the Act was controversial, and there were challenges to its enforcement. Some argued that it infringed on personal liberty, while others maintained that it contributed to improved social order and public health.

The Sunday Closing (Wales) Act 1881 remained in effect for over eighty years. It was eventually repealed by the Licensing Act 1961, which allowed local authorities in Wales to hold referendums on whether or not to allow Sunday opening of public houses. These referendums were held every seven years until changes in legislation in the 1990s effectively ended the blanket prohibition on Sunday alcohol sales.

The Act is historically significant as an early example of devolved legislation for Wales, demonstrating a distinct legal framework tailored to the perceived needs and desires of the Welsh population. It also reflects the strength of nonconformist religious beliefs and the temperance movement's influence in late 19th and early 20th century Wales.