Teetotalism

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Teetotalism is the practice and promotion of complete (or T-total) abstinence from alcoholic beverages. A person who practices (and possibly advocates) teetotalism is called a teetotaler or teetotaller (plural teetotalers or teetotallers.)

People generally choose teetotalism for religious, health, family, and/or social reasons. That does not mean that they never drink anything at drinking establishments. Water, juice, and soft drinks usually are served.

In some cases, teetotalism is not a practice by choice. It can be forced by allergy. Such a person may be referred to as someone who has been teetotaled. An allergy to alcohol can develop later in life, even after a person has long consumed alcohol.

Contemporary and colloquial usage has somewhat expanded teetotalism to include strict abstinence from most "recreational" intoxicants (legal and illegal, see controlled substances). Most teetotaller organizations also demand from their members that they do not promote or produce non-alcoholic intoxicants.

Etymology

One anecdote attributes the origin of the word to a meeting of the Preston Temperance Society in 1832 or 1833. This society was founded by Joseph Livesey, who was to become a leader of the Temperance movement and the author of The Pledge: "We agree to abstain from all liquors of an intoxicating quality whether ale, porter, wine or ardent spirits, except as medicine." The story attributes the word to Dicky Turner, a member of the society, who had a stammer, and in a speech said that nothing would do but "tee-tee-total abstinence".

A more likely explanation is that teatotal is simply a repetition of the 'T' in total. It is said that as early as 1827 in some Temperance Societies signing a 'T' after one's name signified one's pledge for total abstinence.^[1] In England in the 1830s, when the word first entered the lexicon, it was also used in other contexts as an emphasized form of total; in this context, the word is still used, but predominantly in the southern United States. The word could also be confused as a fusion of the words tea, a common non-alcoholic beverage, and total, albeit with the spelling changed slightly — but this is widely considered to be incorrect.

Other uses

• In Nova Scotia and Ireland, as well as among those who are from those places, it is commonly spelled "tea-totaller" and refers to a love for tea over coffee, alcohol, or other strong beverages and bears no stigma among drinkers.
• Within Scotland and England teetotalism is a choice which is generally respected. In India, teetotalism is often the expected norm in upper caste, middle class society^{[citation needed]}, and is the expected norm for women of all strata.
• Another definition of a teetotaler is one who abstains from alcohol and intoxicating drugs of any kind, including narcotics.

Synonyms

Nephalism, temperance, abstinence and restraint are synonyms for teetotalism. Abstinence and restraint have other, sometimes sexual meanings. Their use should be made clear.

Numerous idioms and slang terms imply abstinence from alcohol. Common American terms includes "on the wagon," which frequently means those who have had a problem with alcohol, as well as the terms "dry" and "sober." "Straight-edge" is one of the newer idioms for abstaining from alcohol and other intoxicants.

See also

• List of teetotalers
• Christianity and alcohol
• International Organisation of Good Templars
• Islam and alcohol
• Prohibition
• Straight edge
• Temperance organizations
• WCTU
• Wedding of the Weddings
• Word of Wisdom
• Wowser - slang expression

References

External links

General

• Health benefits of moderate drinking extend to elderly
• BBC Health: Alcohol Benefits Debunked
• Moderate Drinking May Be Unhealthy After All
• Unhealthy Drinking, Eating Habits Linked
• Three drinks a day can cause brain damage
• Study Disputes Reports That Teetotalers Are at Greater Risk Than Light Drinkers
• Teetotaled.com - A webzine on teetotalism and healthy living

Religious

• Why The Christian Should Abstain From Alcohol And Drugs
• 'Booze' Classic Sermon by Billy Sunday
• Alcohol and Christianity
• Seven Good Reasons Christians Should Not Drink
• Christians and Alcohol
• Southern Baptists affirm alcohol, drug abstinence
• Alcohol/Wine: Does the Bible condone moderate use of these substances?
• Word of Wisdom (Mormon)
• Seventh Day Adventist Health Services
• Catholic Encyclopedia: Temperance Movements
• Christians and Alcohol by Hermano Cisco of babylonfalls.org. Considers the symbolism of the wine.

Secular

• Mothers Against Drunk Driving
• Marin Institute for the Prevention of Alcohol and Other Drug Problemsde:Alkoholgegner

fr:Abstème nl:Geheelonthouder fi:Absolutismi (alkoholi) sv:Absolutism (alkohol)