Explain the word tea totler and it origination?

Tea-totaler refers to a person who abstains from consuming any alcoholic beverages. The term is said to have originated in the 1830s within the temperance movement in England. There are several proposed explanations for the origin of the word "tea-totaler".

Here are some accounts:

1. Temperance Pledge: According to one account, The term came from the pledge taken by members of the temperance movement, who committed to abstain from alcohol entirely. The pledge form presented members with a dotted line, where they were supposed to sign their names. One of the members reportedly joked that he wished to be teetotal - referring to the teetotal line. The term then became popular among abstainers.

2. Richard Turner's Speech: Some also attribute the origin to Richard Turner, a member of the British House of Commons who gave a speech in 1833 at a meeting of the Preston Temperance Society in England. In his speech, Turner described people who took a strong pledge against alcohol as "teetotal," a possible play on the word "total."

3. Mispronunciation: Another suggested origin is the possible mispronunciation of "total." The word "teetotal" may have simply been a slurred pronunciation of "total."

4. Tea versus Alcohol: Some historians suggest that the emphasis on tea was intentional, highlighting the choice of tea as a healthy and sober alternative to alcohol. As the temperance movement gained momentum, members of the movement were often referred to as "teetotalers" to distinguish themselves from those who consumed alcohol.

Over time, the term "teetotaler" became widely adopted to refer to individuals who commit to total abstinence from alcohol. While it initially arose within the temperance movement in England, its usage spread beyond its original context and is now commonly understood to mean a non-drinker.