The final and compelling argument for prohibition was war. The years of 1914 to 1918 saw Canadians called on to make unprecedented sacrifices. At a time when the very existence of Canada seemed to be threatened, it was impossible to defend the waste of crops, money, and labour that went into alcohol. Nor could the individual right to drink alcohol count for much when thousands of Canadians were sacrificing their lives. Prohibition had become patriotic.
