If you are a teetotaler , you stay away from drinking alcoholic beverages. " Teetotaler " refers to someone who abstains entirely from alcoholic beverages. The commitment to zero alcohol might have started as a movement among temperance advocates, but these days, many teetotalers simply prefer to sip on a nice cup of tea or coffee instead of a cocktail. Teetotalism is the practice of abstaining from alcoholic drinks, and a teetotaler is someone who does so. Learn about the origin, etymology and religious and other motivations of teetotalism. TEETOTALER meaning : someone who never drinks alcohol: . Learn more.