WHY PEOPLE DO NOT DRINK - A STUDY OF TEETOTALERS

A structured interview was administered to 133 white members of a mid-western Protestant church noted for its views against drinking. All subjects were over age 40 and had children over age 25. Three-fourths of them were lifelong teetotalers. Compared to drinkers in the group, teetotalers were significantly more likely to be highly religious and puritanical, come from families of similar views, and have teetotaler parents and spouses. The teetotalers having a family history of alcoholism differed from teetotalers lacking such a history in the following regards: they less often came from rural backgrounds and had fewer siblings; their parents generally were less puritanical and religious and included fewer teetotalers and more heavy drinkers. These differences suggest that teetotalism, even in a religious group proscribing alcohol, derives from diverse motivations where the presence or absence of alcoholism in the family may be a contributing factor. © 1969.