Reference

1 Chronicles 11:18

And the three brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Beth–lehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but David would not drink of it, but poured it out to the Lord,
16

And David was then in the hold, and the Philistines’ garrison was then at Beth–lehem.

17

And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Beth–lehem, that is at the gate!

18

And the three brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Beth–lehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but David would not drink of it, but poured it out to the Lord,

19

And said, My God forbid it me, that I should do this thing: shall I drink the blood of these men that have put their lives in jeopardy? for with the jeopardy of their lives they brought it. Therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mightiest.

20

And Abishai the brother of Joab, he was chief of the three: for lifting up his spear against three hundred, he slew them, and had a name among the three.

Counter-Arguments

The strongest case that this verse does not belong in this theme.

Total Abstinence

This verse describes David's refusal to drink water, not wine or alcohol, and his action is presented as an offering to the Lord, not as a general command or ideal for total abstinence from any specific substance.