Teetotaler Definition & Meaning

Whereas many temperance groups lobbied for prohibition, the Washington Temperance Society, whose members were known as the Washingtonians, emphasized individual reform over societal reform. 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.

With respect to Restorationist Christianity, members of certain groups within the Christian Science and Latter Day Saint movements abstain from the consumption of alcohol. All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. The decision to abstain from alcohol provides benefits for the people who choose to do so.

1. It’s necessary for a recovering alcoholic to avoid alcohol, even if it means staying out of bars and pubs.
2. It was encouraged among the working class, whereas moderation was more readily accepted among the upper classes, who could afford wine.
3. It became popular as part of the temperance movement in the early 19th century in Great Britain and North America.

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. Participants in the movement criticize alcohol intoxication and promote the benefits of teetotalism. The movement’s leaders emphasize alcohol’s impacts on family life, health, and people’s personalities. The temperance movement is a social effort that opposes the consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Words Nearby teetotaler

There are numerous reasons why a person might choose to become a teetotaler. They can include health and medical concerns, family or social influences, philosophical or political ideologies, past alcoholism, and religious beliefs. Richard Turner, a member of the Preston Temperance Society, received credit for using the slang word “teetotally.” He used it to describe abstinence from all existing alcoholic drinks.

The Temperance Movement

Many Christian groups, including Methodists and Quakers, have traditionally supported the temperance movement and prohibition. You may have some family members, friends, and colleagues who don’t drink alcohol. In fact, there are numerous famous teetotalers in the business and entertainment worlds. Numerous Christian denominations forbid the consumption of alcoholic beverages. It includes the New Order Amish, Christian Scientists, Latter-Day Saints, Seventh Day Adventists, and Mennonites. In history, women becoming teetotallers was often an expression of religious values, or was based on general social reform principles.

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During the 19th and 20th centuries, the temperance movement gained recognition in numerous countries. Certain people stop drinking because they want to improve their physical and mental health. Some people choose to avoid alcohol because they depended on it in the past, and now they’re in recovery.

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘teetotaler.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Teetotaler organizations usually demand that their members not produce or promote alcoholic beverages as part of their commitment. An American source first recorded the word “teetotal” in a general sense in 1832. A reinterpretation of temperance total may have contributed to its linguistic origin and development. “We agree to abstain from all liquors of an intoxicating quality whether ale, port, wine, or ardent spirits, except as medicine.

In the modern world, some women become teetotallers for such reasons, and others because of a past history of alcoholism or alcohol abuse. Assembly of God, Baha’i, Christian Science, Islam, Jainism, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS. also known as the https://sober-home.org/ 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. Methodists in English and American history often taught abstinence but rarely do that currently.

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘teetotal.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. “Khamr” is the word for all intoxicants that Islam prohibits, and Hinduism and Sikhism also require abstinence from alcohol. The teetotalism movement began in Preston, England, in the early 19th century.

What Is a Teetotaler? 9 Facts of the Teetotaler Definition

Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, anywhere with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app. The temperance movement still exists in many parts of the world but has less political influence than in the 19th and 20th centuries. The Roman Catholic alcohol hot flashes Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Lutheran Churches, and Anglican Communion all include wine in their rite of the Eucharist (Holy Communion). However, some organized religions allow their followers to consume alcohol and even include it in formal services.