The term “teetotaler” comes from reduplication and means a person who completely abstains from alcohol. It became popular during British temperance meetings in the 1830s. A modern teetotaler’s decision not to drink is usually personal and based on their moral code. The temperance movement may have faded, but the issue of controlling alcohol consumption is still relevant.
A person who completely abstains from alcoholic beverages may be described as a teetotaler, a description that has surprisingly little to do with the soft drink known as tea. The word actually comes from a relatively obscure grammatical practice known as reduplication. By duplicating the first letter, the speaker gives extra emphasis to the whole word. Before being applied to fervent non-imbibitors, the term “T-total” was already in common use as a synonym for complete or absolute. A teetotaler, therefore, would be a person who has completely or absolutely sworn off the consumption of alcohol.
The word is believed to have become popular during British temperance meetings held in the 1830s. A teetotaler may never have taken a single sip of alcohol in his entire life, as opposed to a reformed alcoholic or social drinker. He or she may cite religious or social beliefs as the basis for his abstinence, or she may have witnessed the effects of alcohol on early relatives. A child of an active alcoholic may choose never to touch alcohol to break the cycle or to discourage their children from forming the destructive habit.
The temperance movements of the 19th and early 20th centuries have largely faded into history, but the underlying problem of controlling the flow of alcohol into a city or county is still alive. The decision to allow the sale of alcohol is often left to voters in a referendum, and it is not unusual for local church leaders and social organizations to unite in solidarity against the sale of alcohol.
A modern teetotaler may or may not have strong views on the right of others to consume alcohol. The decision not to drink is usually a personal one, based on one’s moral code. While some may see a person as someone who is afraid to take risks or join the popular crowd, others may see them as someone capable of taking a strong stand on an issue and not compromising due to peer pressure.
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