refrain from drinking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "refrain from drinking" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to express the act of not drinking alcohol. For example, "The doctor advised me to refrain from drinking any more wine on top of what I had already consumed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

Drink plenty of water before and during your flight and refrain from drinking beverages that will dehydrate you such as caffeinated coffee, tea and alcohol.

WikiHow

He added, however, that the soldiers would henceforth not be asked to refrain from drinking, sharia or no sharia.

The New York Times

An internal memo advised employees to refrain from drinking tap water for the time being, directing any concerns to the facilities management department.

The New York Times

Currently, the recommendation from Chief Medical Officer, the government's most senior health advisor, is that people refrain from drinking on at least two days a week.

Independent

A new study suggests that many designated drivers do not themselves refrain from drinking, creating an obvious barrier to the campaign's effectiveness.

The New York Times

Ms. Bernstine's Rickey, who refuses to give up her flashy wardrobe or refrain from drinking, has an appealing, laid-back warmth.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

Kim, who has heart problems, had been refraining from drinking on Koh's advice".

The New York Times

Her program calls for 30 days of abstinence, and suggests refraining from drinking for at least three days a week.

The New York Times

Participants in Phuket's annual Festival of the Nine Emperor Gods follow a strict set of moral guidelines during its course, refraining from drinking alcohol, fibbing, killing, gossiping and, among other things, eating meat.

The New York Times - Travel

Many demonstrators, who oppose the policies of Mr Erdogan's Islamist-rooted party, refrained from drinking alcohol in respect of religious sensitivities.

BBC

We also asked if pastoralists and their families refrained from drinking milk from treated animals or would wait to slaughter and consume a treated animal and for how long.

Pastoralism

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When providing health or medical advice, using "refrain from drinking" is a clear and concise way to instruct individuals to avoid consuming alcohol or other beverages. This is important to use when providing guidelines to patients prior medical procedures or medical tests.

Common error

Avoid using "refrain from drinking" when the intention is to limit rather than completely avoid beverages. Use "limit your fluid intake" or "drink moderately" instead when complete abstinence is not required.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "refrain from drinking" functions as an imperative or advisory expression, typically used to instruct or recommend abstinence from consuming beverages, most often alcoholic beverages. As Ludwig AI points out, this phrase is commonly used and grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

32%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "refrain from drinking" is a common and grammatically sound way to advise or instruct someone to abstain from consuming beverages, particularly alcohol. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is appropriate for a variety of contexts, ranging from medical advice and scientific studies to news reports and general guidelines. It is most frequently encountered in "News & Media" and "Science" contexts. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure that complete abstinence is intended, as opposed to simply limiting consumption. Alternatives like "abstain from alcohol", "avoid drinking", or "limit fluid intake" can provide more specific or nuanced guidance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

abstain from alcohol

This alternative specifically mentions alcohol, focusing on avoiding alcoholic beverages.

avoid drinking alcohol

This phrase directly suggests preventing the act of drinking alcohol.

refrain from alcohol consumption

This alternative uses a more formal tone by incorporating the word "consumption".

abstain from beverages

This phrase broadens the scope to all beverages, not just alcoholic ones.

avoid alcoholic beverages

This alternative clearly indicates the avoidance of drinks containing alcohol.

practice abstinence from drinking

This alternative emphasizes the continued action of not drinking

lay off drinking

This alternative uses an informal tone to suggest stopping the drinking for a short time.

go teetotal

This alternative means to abstain from alcohol completely.

give up drinking

This alternative means to stop drinking permanently.

be abstemious with drinks

This alternative means to be moderate with drinks.

FAQs

How can I use "refrain from drinking" in a sentence?

You can use "refrain from drinking" to advise someone to abstain from consuming any liquids, especially alcohol, such as: "The doctor advised him to "refrain from drinking" alcohol before the surgery."

What's the difference between "refrain from drinking" and "avoid drinking"?

"Refrain from drinking" suggests a deliberate act of holding oneself back, whereas "avoid drinking" simply means to keep away from drinking. The former implies a stronger, more conscious decision.

Is "refrain from drinking" only applicable to alcohol?

While often used in the context of alcohol, ""refrain from drinking"" can refer to abstaining from any type of liquid, depending on the specific context. For example, one might be told to refrain from drinking water before a medical test.

What are some other phrases similar to "refrain from drinking"?

Similar phrases include "abstain from alcohol", "avoid alcohol", or "give up drinking" which all suggest avoiding or stopping the consumption of alcoholic beverages.