Town Struggling over Alcohol Prohibition Law Discovers That the Law Doesn't Actually Exist

Hanover is a small town south of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. For as long as anyone can remember, it's been a dry town. That means that people aren't allowed to buy or sell alcoholic beverages. Town officials enforced this law, which was not entirely popular.In 2006, the town held a referendum to repeal the law. By a 30-vote margin, the town upheld the alcohol prohibition statute.
The town held an election last Wednesday. The alcohol law was once again up for referendum. But as they were preparing for the election, town officials discovered an important piece of information: the law didn't exist.
Everyone had assumed that alcohol sales were illegal in the town. But no one could find the actual text of the law. Lawyers poured through records going as far back as 1880 and found no alcohol prohibition law.