Abstinence is a self-enforced restraint from indulging in bodily activities that are widely experienced as giving pleasure. Most frequently, the term refers to sexual abstinence, or abstinence from alcohol or food. The practice can arise from religious prohibitions and practical considerations.Abstinence may also refer to drugs. For example, you can abstain from smoking.Abstinence has diverse forms. Commonly it refers to a temporary or partial abstinence from food, as in fasting.