local option

American  

noun

1. a right of choice exercised by a minor political division, as a county, especially as to allowing the sale of liquor.

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local option British  

noun

1. (esp in Scotland, New Zealand, and the US) the privilege of a municipality, county, etc, to determine by referendum whether a particular activity, esp the sale of liquor, shall be permitted there

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Etymology

Origin of local option

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

Negative I. Local option is undesirable in theory.II.

From Elements of Debating by Lyon, Leverett S. (Leverett Samuel)

Local option in nine-tenths of our States, with prohibition of dram-shops everywhere: what a change from a century ago!

From 1931: A Glance at the Twentieth Century by Hartshorne, Henry

Local option was provided on the question of a twelve-hour day for firemen.

From Have faith in Massachusetts; 2d ed. A Collection of Speeches and Messages by Coolidge, Calvin

Local option and anti-lynching laws continue during the next two or three years, and by 1900 twenty-four States have pure-food laws, which, however, are ineffective because they impose no sufficient penalty.

From Popular Law-making by Stimson, Frederic Jesup

Local option is the best method of dealing with the liquor question.

From Elements of Debating by Lyon, Leverett S. (Leverett Samuel)