Teetotalism
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Teetotalism (also tee-totalism) refers to either the practice of or the promotion of complete abstinence from alcoholic beverages. A person who practices (and possibly advocates) teetotalism is called a teetotaler (also spelled teetotaller; plural teetotalers or teetotallers) or is simply said to be teetotal. The teetotalism movement was first started in Preston, England in the early 19th century.
Some common reasons for choosing teetotalism are religious, health, family, philosophical, fear of gastric/epi-gastric and/or social reasons, and, sometimes, as simply a matter of taste or preference. When at drinking establishments, they either abstain from drinking or consume non-alcoholic beverages such as tea, coffee, water, juice, soft drinks and mocktails.
Contemporary and colloquial usage has somewhat expanded teetotalism to include strict abstinence from most "recreational" intoxicants (legal and illegal). Most teetotaler organizations also demand from their members that they do not promote or produce alcoholic intoxicants.
See also
- Anti-Saloon League
- Alcohol in Islam
- Christianity and alcohol
- Coerced abstinence
- International Organisation of Good Templars
- List of teetotalers
- Pioneer Total Abstinence Association
- Prohibition
- Sexual abstinence
- Straight edge
- Wedding of the Weddings
- Woman's Christian Temperance Union
- Word of Wisdom
- Wowser – slang expression