Dry for decades, Saskatchewan town allows alcohol sales

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HEPBURN, Saskatchewan, May 4 (UPI) -- A small town in Saskatchewan has voted to allow the sale of alcohol after being dry for more than a century, officials said.

Hepburn, with a population of 562 residents, has no official law banning alcohol, but was founded by Mennonites, who do not drink, CBC News reported Friday.

The town has not sold liquor in any of its stores for decades. However, this week, Hepburn residents voted in favor of allowing liquor sales.

The town will file an application with the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority to allow a local co-op store to sell alcohol.

Verna Paetkau, 81, said voted against the plan but she can live with the result.

"Some people say they're not going to go in the store if they sell it there, but I don't feel that way," Paetkau said. "I'm still going to go in."