Teetotalism is the practice of voluntarily abstinence from the consumption of alcohol, specifically in . A person who practices (and possibly advocates) teetotalism is called a teetotaler (US) or teetotaller (UK), or said to be teetotal. Globally, in 2016, 57% of adults did not drink alcohol in the past 12 months, and 44.5% had never consumed alcohol.[ A number of temperance organizations have been founded in order to promote teetotalism and provide spaces for to socialise.]
Etymology
According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the tee- in teetotal is the letter T, so it is actually t-total, though it was never spelled that way.
The teetotalism movement first started in Preston, England, in the early 19th century.[Road to Zion – British Isles, BYU-TV; ] The Preston Temperance Society was founded in 1833 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."
Richard Turner, a member of the Preston Temperance Society, is credited with using the existing slang word teetotally for abstinence from all intoxicating liquors. One anecdote describes a meeting of the society in 1833, at which Turner in giving a speech said, "I'll be down out-and-out t-t-total for ever and ever."[ An Etymological Dictionary of the English Language, by Walter William Skeat; published by Clarendon Press, 1893] however, James B. Greenough stated that "nobody ever thought teetotum and teetotaler were etymologically connected."[ Words and Their Ways, by James B. Greenough; published 1902]
A variation on the above account is found on the pages of The Charleston Observer:
According to historian Daniel Walker Howe ( What Hath God Wrought: The Transformation of America, 1815–1848, 2007) the term was derived from the practice of American preacher and temperance advocate Lyman Beecher. He would take names at his meetings of people who pledged alcoholic temperance and noted those who pledged total abstinence with a T. Such persons became known as Teetotallers.
Practice
When at drinking establishments, teetotallers tend to consume non-alcoholic beverages such as water, juice, tea, coffee, non-alcoholic soft drinks, virgin drinks, mocktails, and Low-alcohol beer.
Most teetotaller organisations also demand from their members that they do not promote or produce alcoholic intoxicants.
Reasons
Some common reasons for choosing teetotalism are psychological, religious, health,
Teetotaller religions
Christianity
Some Christians choose to practice teetotalism throughout the Lent season, giving up alcoholic beverages as their Lenten sacrifice.
A number of Christian denominations forbid the consumption of alcohol, or recommend the non-consumption thereof, including certain Anabaptist denominations such as the Mennonites (both Old Order Mennonites and Conservative Mennonites), Church of the Brethren, Beachy Amish and New Order Amish. Many Christian groups, such as Methodists (especially those aligned with the Holiness movement) and Quakers (particularly the Conservative Friends and Holiness Friends), are often associated with teetotalism due to their traditionally strong support for temperance movements, as well as prohibition. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Seventh-day Adventists, and Holiness Pentecostals also preach abstinence from alcohol and other drugs.
Conservative Anabaptist denominations of Christianity proscribe the use of alcohol and other drugs.
The temperance movement gained early support from Methodists. The British Methodist Church historically promoted teetotalism; since the 1970s, it has encouraged members to consider abstinence from alcohol, but does allow responsible drinking.
Uniformed members of the Salvation Army ("soldiers" and "officers") make a promise on joining the movement to observe lifelong abstinence from alcohol. This dates back to the early years of the organisation, and the missionary work among alcoholics.
With respect to Restorationism, members of certain groups within the Christian Science movement abstain from the consumption of alcohol.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints rejects alcohol based upon the Word of Wisdom.
Eastern Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church, the , Oriental Orthodox Churches, and the Anglican Communion all require wine in their central religious rite of the Eucharist (Holy Communion). In contrast, churches in the Methodist tradition (which traditionally upholds teetotalism) require that "pure, unfermented juice of the grape" be used in the sacrament of Holy Communion.
In the Gospel of Luke (1:13–15), the angel that announces the birth of John the Baptist foretells that "he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb". A free translation of the New Testament, the (2000), translates in a way that promotes teetotalism. However, the term 'wine' (and similar terms) being consumed by God's people occurs over two hundred times in both the Old and New Testament.
Dharmic faiths
Jainism forbids the consumption of alcohol, in addition to trade in alcohol.
In Hinduism, the consumption of alcohol and other intoxicants, called surāpāna, is considered the second mahāpātaka, or great sin.
Similarly, one of the five precepts of Buddhism is abstaining from intoxicating substances that disturb the peace and self-control of the mind, but it is formulated as a training rule to be assumed voluntarily by laypeople rather than as a commandment. Buddhist monks and nuns who hold traditional vows are forbidden from consuming alcohol.
Islam
In contemporary Islam, the concept of khamr (), which refers to a category of intoxicating substances that are forbidden, is now generally understood as encompassing all forms of alcohol. Muslim countries have low rates of alcohol consumption, with many enforcing a policy of prohibition. Additionally, the majority of Muslims do not drink and believe consuming alcohol is forbidden (haram).
Ibn Majah and al-Tirmidhi narrated an authentic hadith that if a Muslim drinks alcohol and does not repent, they would enter Hell after death and be "made to drink from the pus of the people of Jahannam."
Research on non-drinkers
Dominic Conroy and Richard de Visser published research in Psychology and Health that studied strategies used by college students who would like to resist peer pressure to drink alcohol in social settings. The research hinted that students are less likely to give in to peer pressure if they have strong friendships and make a decision not to drink before social interactions.
A 2015 study by the Office for National Statistics showed that young Britons were more likely to be teetotallers than their parents.
According to Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health, published by WHO in 2011, close to half of the world's adult population (45 percent) are lifetime abstainers. The Eastern Mediterranean Region, consisting of the Muslim countries in the Middle East and North Africa, is by far the lowest alcohol-consuming region in the world, both in terms of total adult per-capita consumption and prevalence of non-drinkers, i.e., 87.8 percent lifetime abstainers.
Millennials and Generation Z
Teetotalism has become increasingly common amongst younger generations, particularly millennials and Generation Z. A study published in April 2023 by the International Wine and Spirits Record (IWSR) revealed that millennials were key drivers of no-alcohol growth in the United States, with 45% of no-alcohol beer consumers in the US being millennials. By April 2024, that figure had climbed to 61%. The reasons given were primarily attributed to lifestyle and functionality.
A similar study published by the National Public Health Information Coalition (NPHIC) in 2022 revealed that millennials and Gen Zers were more likely to embrace sobriety than drinking culture with a survey indicating that 57% of these individuals would rather go to the gym for an hour than go out to a bar, and 69% finding heavy drinking culture boring. The common reasons given for Gen Zers were maintaining control over their lives, prioritizing productivity, and regulating their physical and mental health.
Notable advocates
This is a list of notable figures who practiced teetotalism and were public advocates for temperance, teetotalism, or both. To be included in this list, individuals must be well known for their abstention from alcohol, their advocacy efforts, or both.
Individuals whose abstention from alcohol is not a defining characteristic or feature of their notability are intentionally excluded.
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Albert BarnesAmerican theology, clergyman, abolitionist, temperance advocate, and author
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clergyman and one of the joint founders of Primitive Methodism
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George N. Briggs19th Governor of Massachusetts, from 1844 to 1851
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Prohibition advocate and mayor of Portland, Maine, from 1851 to 1852 and from 1855 to 1856
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entertainer and Prohibition Party candidate for U.S. President in the 1952 presidential election
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Lucy Webb Hayeswife of Rutherford B. Hayes and first lady of the United States from 1877 to 1881
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who was a radical member of the temperance movement, which opposed alcohol before the advent of Prohibition. Nation is noted for attacking alcohol-serving establishments (most often taverns) with a hatchet.
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Arnold Nordmeyer6th leader of the New Zealand Labour Party between 1963 and 1965.
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actor in movies such as , , and . He launched the low-alcohol beer company BERO.
See also
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Alcoholics Anonymous
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Blue ribbon badge
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Catch-my-Pal
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Christian views on alcohol
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List of temperance organizations
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Theobald Mathew (temperance reformer)
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Native American temperance activists
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Pioneer Total Abstinence Association
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Sobriety
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Sober curious
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Straight edge
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Temperance bar
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Wedding of the Weddings
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Woman's Christian Temperance Union
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Word of Wisdom
External links
