2.5 per cent. by volume are classed as intoxicants in Norway). These legislative measures, coupled with a strong temperance movement, have given very good results. At the outbreak of the Great War the employ- ment of corn and potatoes for the production of alcoholic drinks was temporarily prohibited by Order in Council. At the same time the sale and serving of these drinks was also prohibited. This embargo was removed in the late autumn of 1914, but was re-imposed in December 1916. In 1917 it was extended so as to embrace all wines of a strength exceeding 15 per cent. by volume (later 12 per cent.). In 1919 the Storting resolved that a plebiscite should be held to determine whether the tempo- rary prohibition should be made permanent. As Norwegian constitutional law does not include any provision relative to plebiscites, it was resolved that this ballot should be only consultative for the Government and the Storting who were to legislate in the question. The result of this plebiscite was 487999 votes in favour of prohibition and 304207 against it. With this result the Government considered itself bound to uphold the embargo on the sale of spirits and strong wines. This, however, led to difficulties with wine-producing countries. and consequently the Storting resolved in 1923 to remove the embargo on the importation and sale of strong wines. 127