Abstinence (conscription)

Abstinence means choosing not to do something. When it comes to abstinence in the context of conscription or mandatory military service, it means choosing not to join the military or be drafted into it.

So, imagine you are a kid who really doesn't want to eat broccoli at dinner time. You might choose to be abstinent and not eat the broccoli, even though your parents really want you to.

Likewise, if you are living in a country where military service is mandatory (meaning the government requires it of all citizens), you might choose to be abstinent and not join the military, even though the government really wants you to. This could be for many reasons - maybe you have strong moral or religious beliefs against violence, or maybe you just don't feel like military service is right for you.

Being abstinent in this way is completely legal and allowed, although it might come with some consequences. For example, you might have to pay a fine or face other penalties for not fulfilling your military service obligation. But ultimately, the choice is yours.