choose to abstain from alcohol

/əbˈsteɪn/

verb phrase

  1. To deliberately decide not to drink any alcohol, usually as a personal rule or commitment rather than a one-off choice.

    B1

    choose to + base verb; abstain is intransitive and followed by 'from' + noun or -ing form

    • "My uncle chose to abstain from alcohol after his accident."A2
    • "Some people choose to abstain from alcohol for health or personal reasons."B2
    • "Having chosen to abstain from alcohol for a year, he found social events harder than expected."C1

  2. To avoid alcohol for a period on medical or official advice, for example before surgery or during pregnancy.

    B2

    formal

    • "Patients must choose to abstain from alcohol for two weeks before the operation."B2
    • "Doctors often advise women to abstain from alcohol during pregnancy."C1

Common mistakes

  • He abstains alcohol.→He abstains from alcohol.

    'Abstain' is always followed by 'from' before the thing avoided.

  • She chose to abstain from to drink.→She chose to abstain from drinking.

    After 'from', use the -ing form, not the infinitive.

Collocations

abstain from alcoholabstain from drinkinggive up drinkingstay soberquit drinking

Word family

abstainabstinenceabstinentabstainer