The Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) was formed in America in the mid-1870s and reached Australia in the 1880s. The movement was influential and widespread, developing at a time when many social problems, such as poverty and family breakdown, were attributed to drunkenness. The union also lobbied strongly for women's suffrage and social justice.

This instructional film, Alcohol as a narcotic drug, features the activities of a youth camp held by the WCTU of South Australia.

Children could join the Loyal Temperance Legion at the age of 6 and graduated to the Youth Christian Temperance Union at 14. The object of these was "by a regular course of study, both scientific and ethical, to make boys and girls intelligent abstainers."

Youth camps took place 2 or 3 times a year, near the city at locations such as Christies Beach, Belair, Longwood, Hamley Bridge, Mt Lofty and Mylor and in rural locations including Silverton near Broken Hill, Williamstown, Maitland, Balaklava and Nairne.

Camps involved group discussion, devotions, swimming and hiking, cricket, tennis and study sessions.

After reaching its peak between the early 1940s and mid 1950s there was a sharp decline in youth work and membership after 1960.

Today the WCTU continues to advocate a healthy and drug-free lifestyle by avoiding the harmful effects of alcohol, other narcotic drugs and tobacco.

Harry, Millicent K. A century of service : the history of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of South Australia Inc. : supplementing 'Torchbearers' (the first sixty years) ... Adelaide : WCTU of South Australia, 1986

McCorkindale, Isabel (ed). Torch-bearers : the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of South Australia, 1886-1948, Adelaide : Woman's Christian Temperance Union of South Australia, 1949

Women & politics in South Australia See: Women's suffrage )

Woman's Christian Temperance Union (United States)

Woman's Christian Temperance Union of South Australia (1889 - )