But nonetheless I've been looking up the reasons others have for not consuming alcohol, also known as being a teetotaler.
(That's a link to myself, the teetotaler, in a sort of protest at google's poor results when you search for this. It can't even tell me how it's spelled. Huh.)
An old article (1996) by one Keith Drury. What he writes on religion is especially interesting: "I like my denomination on most days, so even if I wanted to drink myself, if it is important to the people in this church for 150 years, I can think about it a little while longer."
That's conservatism at it's best. But of course arguments 2,3 and 6 are a lot stronger.
Robin Skyler has an interesting sort-of-FAQ humorously reflects the attitudes teetotalers meet, and at the same time makes a very good case. Of those, I think the second-to-last is one of the better arguments here, although they all hold up. I sort of disagree with nr. 2 though - it's about right and wrong whether he intends it to be or not.
Interestingly, in punk culture it seems people are less afraid of talking about it when they don't drink. This article is a good example of the type, although the reasons are mostly personal and emotional.
I think I have to cut it here. I will write my own text one of these days.
Posted by vintermann at May 19, 2005 06:32 PM