Teetotal?

[Sunday Girl]

why do we call someone 'teetotal' when they do not drink alcohol... where does the word come from??

[sft42]

try here for a good detailed explaination

http://www.outofrange.net/blogarchive/archives/000
222.html

[gilf]

I had heard it was to do with tea tasters in India who because they needed to be able to taste the tea with a clean pallet were not allowed to drink alcohol and therefore all the could drink was tea.

[KEJ2000]

Because "tea" is the "total" of what beverages they consume. The link that sft42 provided is correct, and fascinating!