also teetotaller, "one who formally pledges to entire abstinence from intoxicating drink," 1834, agent noun from teetotal (q.v.). Related: Teetotaleress (1834); teetotalist (1840).
Invented by the "health conscious" and used as a term of self-identification. As far as I know, nobody thinks of it as anything other than a convenient synonym for "doesn't want to drink alcohol, at all".
It conveniently avoids motivation, too. Several religions forbid alcohol, it's not a good idea for alcoholics, and of course there are people who just think it's a bad idea for any other reason. "I'm a teetotaller" avoids getting into personal details.
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teetotaler(n.)
also teetotaller, "one who formally pledges to entire abstinence from intoxicating drink," 1834, agent noun from teetotal (q.v.). Related: Teetotaleress (1834); teetotalist (1840).
Invented by the "health conscious" and used as a term of self-identification. As far as I know, nobody thinks of it as anything other than a convenient synonym for "doesn't want to drink alcohol, at all".
It conveniently avoids motivation, too. Several religions forbid alcohol, it's not a good idea for alcoholics, and of course there are people who just think it's a bad idea for any other reason. "I'm a teetotaller" avoids getting into personal details.