Teetotalism

Teetotalism is the practice or promotion of complete personal abstinence from alcoholic beverages. A person who practices (and possibly advocates) teetotalism is called a teetotaler (plural teetotalers) or is simply said to be teetotal. The teetotalism movement was first started in Preston, England, in the early 19th century.[1] 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."[2] Today, a number of temperance organizations exist that promote teetotalism as a virtue.[3]

Etymology

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According to the etymological dictionaries, the tee- in teetotal is the letter T, so it is actually t-total, though it was never spelled that way.[4] The word is first recorded in 1832 in a general sense in an American source, and in 1833 in England in the context of abstinence. Since at first it was used in other contexts as an emphasised form of total, the tee- is presumably a reduplication of the first letter of total, much as contemporary idiom today might say "total with a capital T".[5] Possibly a reinterpretation to mean temperance total influenced the semantic development; it is said that as early as 1827 in some Temperance Societies signing a "T" after one's name had signified one's pledge to temperance.

Richard Turner is credited with using the existing slang word, "teetotally", for abstinence from all intoxicating liquors.[5] One anecdote describes a meeting of the Preston Temperance Society in 1833. Richard Turner,[2] a member of the society, in giving a speech said "I'll be reet down out-and-out t-t-total for ever and ever."[6] Walter William Skeat noted that the Turner anecdote had been recorded by temperance advocate Joseph Livesey, and posited that the term may have been inspired by the teetotum;[7] however, James B. Greenough stated that "nobody ever thought teetotum and teetotaler were etymologically connected."[8]

A variation on the above account is found on the pages of The Charleston Observer:

Teetotalers.—The origin of this convenient word, (as convenient almost, although not so general in its application as loafer,) is, we imagine, known but to few who use it. It originated, as we learn from the Landmark, with a man named Turner, a member of the Preston Temperance Society, who, having an impediment of speech, in addressing a meeting remarked, that partial abstinence from intoxicating liquors would not do; they must insist upon tee-tee-(stammering) tee total abstinence. Hence total abstainers have been called teetotalers.[9]

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.

Reasons

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Some common reasons for choosing teetotalism are psychological, religious, health,[10] medical, familial, philosophical, social, political, past alcoholism, or sometimes it is simply a matter of taste or preference. When at drinking establishments, teetotalers (or teetotallers) either abstain from drinking completely, or consume non-alcoholic beverages such as water, juice, tea, coffee, non-alcoholic soft drinks, virgin drinks, mocktails, and alcohol-free beer.

Most teetotaler organizations also demand from their members that they do not promote or produce alcoholic intoxicants.[11][12]

Religion

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Abstention from alcohol is a tenet of a number of religious faiths, including Hinduism, such as the Swaminarayans; Sikhism; Baháʼís; Jains; and Meivazhi-ites.

"Khamr" is the term for all intoxicants which are prohibited in Islam. (See Religion and alcohol § Islam)

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 rather than as a commandment.

Many Christian groups, such as Methodists and Quakers, are often associated with teetotalism due to their traditionally strong support for temperance movements, as well as prohibition. And a number of Christian denominations forbid the consumption of alcohol, or recommend the non-consumption thereof, including the New Order Amish, Latter-Day Saints, Seventh-day Adventists, Mennonites (both Old Order and Conservative), Church of the Brethren members, and Christian Scientists. Many members of these religious groups are also required to refrain from selling such products. A translation of the New Testament, the Purified Translation of the Bible, translates in a way that promotes teetotalism.

With respect to Methodism, the Church of the Nazarene and Wesleyan Methodist Church, both denominations in the Wesleyan-Arminian tradition, teach abstinence from alcohol.[13][14] Members of denominations in the conservative holiness movement, such as the Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Connection and Evangelical Wesleyan Church, practice temperance and teetotalism, thus abstaining from alcohol and other drugs.[15] The Book of Discipline of the Immanuel Missionary Church, a Methodist denomination, states:[16]

Temperance is the moderate use of that which is beneficial, and a total abstinence from that which is harmful. Therefore no member shall be permitted to use or sell intoxicating liquors, tobacco, or harmful drugs, or to be guilty of things which are only for the gratification of the depraved appetite, and are unbecoming and inconsistent with our Christian profession (I Cor. 10:31). —General Standards, Immanuel Missionary Church[16]

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 Restorationist Christianity, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints abstain from alcoholic drinks (and other substances) based on their adherence to the faith's code of health called "The Word of Wisdom".

Eastern Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church, the Lutheran Churches, Oriental Orthodox Churches, and the Anglican Communion all require wine in their central religious rite of the eucharist, Churches in the Methodist tradition require that "pure, unfermented juice of the grape" be used in the sacrament of Holy Communion.[17] (See Christianity and alcohol.)

Some Christians choose to practice teetotalism throughout the Lent season, thus giving up alcoholic beverages as their Lenten sacrifice.[18][19]

Research on non-drinkers

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Dominic Conroy and Richard de Visser published research in Psychology and Health which 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.[20]

A 2015 study by the Office for National Statistics showed that young Britons were more likely to be teetotalers than their parents.[21]

According to Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health, published by WHO in 2011, close to half of the world’s adult population (45 per cent) are life-time 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.[22]

Notable teetotalers

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Theatre, film and television

• Simon Amstell – English comedian and writer and director[23][24]
• Penn & Teller (both members) – Magicians
• Gillian Jacobs – American actress known for her roles as Britta Perry in Community and Mickey Dobbs in Love[25]
• Ewan McGregor – Scottish-American actor and motorcyclist, known for his roles in Trainspotting, Moulin Rouge!, and Star Wars, as well as motorcycle adventures in Long Way Round, Long Way Down, and Long Way Up[26]
• Craig Ferguson – Scottish-American television host, most famous as the former host of The Late Late Show, where he would often talk about his past alcoholism and his road to sobriety and teetotalism
• Anthony Hopkins – Academy Award winning Welsh Actor, who has been teetotal since 29 December 1975 after bouts of alcoholism. He celebrated 45 years of sobriety in 2020[27]
• Gary Oldman – English actor and filmmaker
• Kate Beckinsale  – English Actress and Model
• Gerard Butler – Scottish actor and film producer
• Shaun Micallef  – Australian comedian and actor
• David Bailey – English photographer and director
• Daniel Radcliffe  – English actor, most famous for his role as Harry Potter in the Harry Potter film series[28]
• Jason Bateman – American television and film actor[29]

Music

• Tyler, the Creator – American rapper, producer, and entrepreneur[30]
• Jme – Grime artist[31][32][33]
• Angus Young – AC/DC guitarist
• Eric Dolphy – jazz saxophonist
• Varg Vikernes – Norwegian black metal musician[34][35]
• Ice-T – American rapper and producer[36][37]
• Badshah (rapper) – Indian rapper and singer known for being India's highest-paid rapper[38]
• Gene Simmons  – Bass player for rock band KISS[30]
• Gucci Mane – American recording artist[39]
• Royce da 5'9" – American recording artist, sober since 2012[40]
• Jeff Tweedy – American songwriter and musician, best known as the lead singer of Wilco[41]
• Bethany Cosentino – American recording artist, best known as the lead singer of Best Coast, sober since 2017[42]

Politics

• Joe Biden – 46th President of the United States[43]
• Donald Trump – 45th President of the United States[43]
• Narendra Modi – Prime Minister of India
• Tyler Cowen – Economist and political writer[44]
• Nicolas Sarkozy – Former President of France[45]
• Adolf Hitler – Former dictator of Germany[46]

Fashion

• Tom Ford – Clothing designer
• Karl Lagerfeld – Clothing designer[47]

Sport

• Cristiano Ronaldo – Portuguese footballer
• Gareth Bale – Welsh footballer[48]
• Romelu Lukaku – Belgian footballer
• Mohamed Salah  – Egyptian footballer[49]
• Sadio Mané  – Senegalese footballer
• Paul Pogba  – French footballer
• Ngolo Kanté  – French footballer
• Franck Ribéry  – French footballer
• Karim Benzema  – French footballer
• Harry Kane  – English footballer
• Jordan Henderson  – English footballer
• James Milner  – English footballer
• Naby Keïta  – Guinean footballer
• Nathan Aké  – Dutch footballer
• Miralem Pjanić  – Bosnian footballer
• Khabib Nurmagomedov  – retired Russian professional mixed martial artist
• Joel Embiid – Cameroonian basketballer
• Bryce Harper – American baseballer
• Triple H – Professional wrestler
• CM Punk – Professional wrestler
• Cesaro – Professional wrestler
• Floyd Mayweather Jr. – American boxer

See also

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• Alcoholics Anonymous
• Blue ribbon badge
• Catch-my-Pal
• List of Temperance organizations
• Theobald Mathew (temperance reformer)
• Pioneer Total Abstinence Association
• Sobriety
• Straight edge
• Temperance bar
• Woman's Christian Temperance Union

References

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