Teetotalism

Teetotalism is the practice and promotion of complete abstinence from alcoholic beverages. A person who practices (and possibly advocates) teetotalism is called a teetotaler or teetotaller (plural teetotalers or teetotallers) or is simply said to be teetotal.

Some common reasons for choosing teetotalism are religious, health, family, philosophical, fear of stomach pain and/or social reasons, and, sometimes, as simply a matter of taste preference. When at drinking establishments, they either abstain from drinking or consume non-alcoholic beverages such as tea, coffee, water, juice, and soft drinks.

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

The Drunkard's Progress: A lithograph by Nathaniel Currier supporting the temperance movement, January 1846.

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 teetotal is simply a reduplication of the 'T' in total (T-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, 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 (Tea-total) — but this is not widely believed.

U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes was a famous tee-totaler. His wife acquired the nickname "Lemonade Lucy" because of her practice of serving guests non-alcoholic beverages while entertaining in the White House.

Synonyms

Nephalism^[2], temperance, abstinence / abstention, abstemiousness and restraint are synonyms for teetotalism.

Numerous idioms and slang terms imply abstinence from alcohol. A common American term is "on the (water) wagon", which frequently means those who have had a problem with alcohol, as well as the terms "dry" and "sober". "Straight edge" is a newer idiom for abstaining from alcohol and other intoxicants, although it is more common in connection with hardcore punk culture. "Temperance" was a more popular term in the 1800s and early 1900s when temperance unions throughout the US battled consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Related topics

References

External links

• Study Disputes Reports That Teetotalers Are at Greater Risk Than Light Drinkers