Women's Total Abstinence Union
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| Abbreviation | WTAU |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | British Women's Temperance Association |
| Formation | 1893 |
| Purpose | women's temperance activism |
| Headquarters | 4 Ludgate Hill, London |
Region served | UK |
Main organ | Wings |
Women's Total Abstinence Union (WTAU) was a British women's organization active during the temperance movement in the United Kingdom. Its headquarters were at 4 Ludgate Hill, London. In addition to a president, there were 41 vice-presidents. The general committee met four times a years and consisted of members of the Executive Committee and 40 others elected annually from the council meetings of delegates. The Executive Committee consisted of the officers and 23 elected members. There was a sub-committee for junior work.[1]
After the British Women's Temperance Association (BWTA) held a contentious annual meeting in 1893 during which Lady Henry Somerset led the change in club policies to include the support for women's suffrage, the organization split. A new group was formed, the WTAU, which focused solely on temperance, while the BWTA was re-named the National British Women’s Temperance Association.[2][3]
The organization's work included lectures, deputations, public meetings, drawing-room meetings, conferences, distribution of literature, correspondence and advice, opposing licenses at brewster sessions (magistrates' sessions for issuing liquor licenses),[4] promoting the return of total abstainers to boards of guardians, and of members of school boards who were in favour of scientific temperance instruction in schools. It also introduced a Bill into Parliament for the abolition of grocers' licenses.[1]
As of 1899, there were 223 federated societies, including junior and other attached branches, 249. The Nurses' National Total Abstinence League (established in 1897), and the Deaconesses' National Total Abstinence League (established in 1898) were examples of federated societies.[1]
The official organ was a monthly entitled, Wings.[1]
