Choosing recovery close to home means your support system is just a few miles away. Ranking #38,922, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn’t essential for general communication.

For those struggling with substance use, teetotaling can be a crucial step in reclaiming health and well-being. Seeking rehab for alcohol addiction is often necessary for individuals who want to break free from alcohol dependency and adopt a sober lifestyle. 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 alcohol-free beer. For those struggling with alcohol dependency, becoming a teetotaler is often a necessary step toward recovery.

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So, the next time you hear someone say they’re a teetotaler, you’ll know exactly what that means—and maybe even appreciate the courage it takes to go against the grain. Teetotalism involves the commitment to abstain from alcohol and similar substances, often promoted for health, moral, or social reasons. Over time, “teetotal” became a verb meaning to advocate total abstinence, with related terms like teetotalism soon following. Though the temperance movement declined, teetotalism remains relevant for those choosing an alcohol-free lifestyle for health or recovery. Whereas many temperance groups lobbied for prohibition, the Washington Temperance Society, whose members were known as the Washingtonians, emphasized individual reform over societal reform.

Teetotal Origin: The Exciting Tale of Richard Turner

Teetotalism, the practice or promotion of total abstinence from alcoholic drinks. It became popular as part of the temperance movement in the early 19th century in Great Britain and North America. Unlike temperance advocates, who promoted moderation in alcohol consumption or abstention solely from hard liquor (distilled spirits), people who practice teetotalism, known as teetotalers, abstain from all alcohol, including beer and wine. Individuals who embrace teetotalism may choose this lifestyle for various reasons, including religious beliefs, health concerns, or personal preferences.

What Don’t Teetotalers Drink?

A teetotaler is a person who abstains from consuming alcohol in all its devilishly delightful forms. This means they’ve waved goodbye to the likes of beer, wine, and spirits in favor of more tepid beverages, like water, fruit juice, or herbal tea. Assembly of God, Baha’i, Christian Science, Islam, Jainism, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS. also known as the Mormon Church), Seventh-day Adventist Church, the Church of Christ, Sikhism, Salvation Army. Also, some Hindu and Buddhist sects, and some Mennonite and Pentecostal groups.

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This decision can be rooted in health concerns, religious beliefs, personal experiences, or just a preference for a booze-free life. A person who follows this practice is known as a “teetotaler” or “teetotalist.” Unlike social drinkers who consume alcohol in moderation, teetotalers commit to full sobriety, often as a lifestyle choice. By 1836, when the American national temperance convention formally endorsed total abstinence, many temperance societies had switched from promoting moderation to advocating for abstinence.

The fellowship group for reformed alcoholics was founded in 1840 in Baltimore, Maryland, by six men seeking to help one another and others to maintain their sobriety. They recruited other people in their community, even non-alcoholics, and held regular meetings in which they shared their experiences with drinking and sobriety. Over time, the Washingtonians attracted as many as 600,000 members, with chapters throughout the United States. Notably, they welcomed many groups that other temperance societies excluded, including Roman Catholics and Black Americans. Women formed their own Washingtonian chapters, Martha Washington societies, and called themselves “Marthas.” By the late 1840s, most Washingtonian chapters had stopped meeting owing to declining membership.

While not everyone needs to abstain from alcohol, choosing to be teetotal can bring numerous benefits, including improved health, better sleep, and stronger emotional well-being. So, the next time you’re at a social gathering and you see someone proudly declaring their teetotal lifestyle, raise a glass of your alcoholic beverage and toast to their decision to live life on the wild side of sobriety. While you’re at it, raise another glass in honor of Richard Turner, whose stutter led to the creation of a term that will forever define those who choose to abstain from the devil’s nectar.

Religious groups that require or encourage abstinence from the use of alcoholic beverages:

Plus, there’s the added bonus of avoiding the slippery slope of alcohol dependency. People become teetotalers for a variety of reasons, and each person’s journey is unique. It’s a lifestyle choice that requires an iron will, a love for clear-headed mornings, and the ability to withstand endless mockery from friends who don’t understand the appeal of a party without a single drop of booze.

• He argued that the only true path to a life of wild excitement was total abstinence from alcohol.
• In the modern world, some women become teetotallers for such reasons, and others because of a past history of alcoholism or alcohol abuse.
• For individuals recovering from alcohol use disorder, embracing a teetotal lifestyle is often essential to long-term success.
• Through our integrated treatment programs, we’ve helped thousands of people choose recovery over addiction and get back to life on their own terms.

This movement, which advocated for complete abstinence from alcohol, used the term “teetotal” to emphasize total avoidance of drinking. The double “T” in “teetotal” was a way to stress the idea of absolute abstinence. Over time, the term stuck, and today, it’s used to describe anyone who lives an alcohol-free lifestyle. In a world where grabbing a drink after work or toasting at celebrations is practically second nature, the idea of abstaining from alcohol entirely might seem a bit out of the ordinary.

Most of those religions that prohibit alcohol do so on the teetotalism meaning grounds that it is harmful, that it inhibits mindfulness, or can easily lead to unethical behavior. From there, the term came to be used more generally, for anyone who voluntarily committed to abstinence, or simply for a nondrinker.

The practice gained traction in a cultural climate that increasingly recognized the detrimental effects of alcohol on health and social behavior. Teetotalism often became intertwined with various social and political movements, advocating for broader reforms in drinking culture and public health. Over the years, it has evolved from being primarily a moral stance to more of a personal choice intertwined with wellness and lifestyle decisions.

Word History

We encourage all those struggling with substance use to seek professional help. Like any lifestyle choice, teetotalism comes with its own set of ups and downs. We’re here 24/7 to help you get the care you need to live life on your terms, without drugs or alcohol. Talk to our recovery specialists today and learn about our integrated treatment programs. If you are considering sobriety but need help getting there, Landmark Recovery offers comprehensive treatment programs to help individuals overcome alcohol use. Whether you are looking for detox, residential care, or outpatient support, our programs are designed to meet your unique needs and provide the tools for lasting recovery.

If you find it difficult to stop drinking on your own, seeking professional help can provide the support you need. In history, women becoming teetotallers was often an expression of religious values, or was based on general social reform principles. In the modern world, some women become teetotallers for such reasons, and others because of a past history of alcoholism or alcohol abuse. Members of temperance organizations sang songs, organized marches to shut down saloons or pass prohibition laws, circulated pamphlets about the cause, and gave speeches on the moral problems caused by drinking. Teetotalism was embraced by some religious groups and moral reformers as the answer to the problems of poverty, unemployment or work absenteeism, declining church attendance, crime, and domestic violence. It was encouraged among the working class, whereas moderation was more readily accepted among the upper classes, who could afford wine.

For individuals recovering from alcohol use disorder, embracing a teetotal lifestyle is often essential to long-term success. Even occasional drinking can trigger relapse, making full abstinence a safer choice for maintaining sobriety. In the 19th century, the Preston Temperance Society in England and, later, the American Temperance Union encouraged a pledge of abstinence from intoxicating liquor, as part of the temperance movement. Those who had signed the pledge were asked to use a T with their signature to mean «total abstinence.» The T plus the «total» led to those who’d signed the pledge being called T-totallers or teetotallers. Studies in the late 2010s indicated a decline in youth drinking in Western countries, with more than one-fourth of English youth in their mid-teens to mid-20s and nearly three-tenths of college-age Americans claiming total abstinence.

It promotes the idea of living a life without alcohol, which can lead to a range of social, health, and psychological benefits. Teetotalers often advocate for responsible drinking and may support initiatives to reduce alcohol-related harm in society. Teetotalism is defined as the practice or advocacy of complete abstinence from alcohol and its related products. This approach is rooted in the belief that avoiding alcohol leads to better health and well-being. Proponents of teetotalism often promote the social, physical, and mental benefits of not consuming alcoholic beverages, encouraging others to adopt a similar lifestyle for various reasons, including personal health, religious beliefs, and societal impacts. The term ‘teetotalism’ dates back to the early 19th century, emerging during the temperance movement that took place in various parts of the world, notably in the United States and the United Kingdom.

By this time, membership in temperance societies had reached about 1.5 million in the United States. It was also estimated that about a quarter of a million individuals were practicing total abstinence. At its core, being a teetotaler is about making a conscious choice to live without alcohol. Whether it’s for health, faith, or personal reasons, it’s a decision that comes with its own set of rewards and challenges. And while it might not always be easy, the growing acceptance of teetotalism in modern culture is a sign that more people are recognizing the value of a sober lifestyle.