Nearly 90 years since prohibition was repealed in the province, proposed changes to Nova Scotia’s alcohol laws could make it wet province-wide.

If approved, the new amendments proposed by the province’s Alcohol and Gaming Division would remove technical, localized restrictions to serving alcohol and also give restaurant owners a break.

John MacDonald, the division’s executive director, says there are 105 dry communities in Nova Scotia, which voted to do so since the province repealed prohibition in 1929.

Baddeck is one of these communities, but you don’t need to call a plebiscite to open a licensed restaurant there, MacDonald says.

“There are a number of eating establishments in Baddeck that have gone through the public consultation process and you can order a meal and have alcohol with your meal — but you can't have a lounge licence,” he said.

A lounge licence, on the other hand, would require a plebiscite in one of these communities under the existing rules.

MacDonald’s proposed amendments would eliminate the need for plebiscites in communities like Baddeck.

The reasoning is these plebiscites have proven to be expensive, costing on average $11,000 each, while suffering from poor voter turnout.

But MacDonald said he is also recommending that communities like Baddeck be given an option.

“We're going to suggest to government that they delay proclamation by a year. That would allow any community that wants to bring in restrictions (to do so) through their elected officials,” he said.

Another major change being put forward would affect restaurants, which in some communities currently require patrons to order food in order to be served alcohol.

But that will change if the amendments go through.

“In other words they're not going to operate as a lounge. They aren't going to have that lounge atmosphere but you'll be able to go in and have a drink,” MacDonald said.

Luc Erjavec of the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association says many establishments would welcome that change.

“A lot of these restaurants don't want to be in the lounge business. They just want the ability — it’s a hot day, someone wants a cold beer, serve them a cold beer,” he said.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Rick Grant