Opposition to the temperance movement or the principle of total abstinence from alcohol.
From anti- (against) + teetotalism (total abstinence from alcohol), from teetotal (possibly from reduplication of 'total'), + -ism (ideology). Antiteetotalism emerged in the 1800s as resistance to prohibition.
While temperance crusaders wore white ribbons and marched against alcohol, antiteetotalists argued that moderate drinking was fine—and history proved them partially right, since pure Prohibition (1920-1933) created more crime than it prevented.
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