Walk into any bar in Salt Lake City and you’ll find a surprisingly vibrant craft cocktail scene. But for the vast majority of the people living in the shadow of the Wasatch Mountains, those drinks are strictly off-limits. It's a quirk of culture that everyone seems to know about, yet few outside the faith actually understand the "why" behind it. Most people think it’s just a random rule or some old-fashioned hang-up. In reality, the question of why can't Mormons drink alcohol goes back to a chilly morning in 1833 and a small room in Kirtland, Ohio.
Religion is funny like that. Some rules are about morality, others about health, and some are just about identity. For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), avoiding beer, wine, and the hard stuff is a matter of revelation. It’s not just a "good idea." It’s a commandment known as the Word of Wisdom.
But here’s the kicker: back in the 1800s, things looked a lot different than they do today.
The 1833 Revelation: Tobacco, Spitting, and Emma Smith
To understand the prohibition, you have to look at Joseph Smith. He was the founder of the movement. He and other early church leaders used to meet in a small space called the School of the Prophets. Picture a room full of men in the 19th century. They were chewing tobacco. They were spitting on the floor. The air was thick with smoke.
Emma Smith, Joseph’s wife, was the one who had to clean up the mess. She wasn't thrilled. She complained to Joseph about the filth and the general atmosphere of the meetings. Shortly after, Joseph Smith reported receiving a revelation from God. This became Section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants. It’s a text that Mormons hold as sacred scripture, right alongside the Bible and the Book of Mormon.
Initially, the Word of Wisdom wasn't a "hard" commandment. It was framed as a "principle with promise." Basically, it was divine advice. The text explicitly says it wasn't sent by way of "constraint." Early Mormons actually kept drinking for a while. Joseph Smith himself was known to have a drink on occasion, and Brigham Young, the second president of the church, even owned a distillery in Utah.
Wait. A Mormon prophet owned a distillery?
Yes. It was a different era. Alcohol was often safer than the water supply, and it was a major economic driver for the pioneer territory. However, as the 19th century rolled into the 20th, the church's stance hardened. By the time Heber J. Grant became the president of the church in 1918, the Word of Wisdom became a requirement for entering the temple. That changed everything. It went from a health suggestion to a literal test of faith and worthiness.
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What Does the Text Actually Say?
The language of the Word of Wisdom is archaic and, honestly, a little confusing if you don't know the context. It talks about "strong drinks" and "wine." It says that "strong drinks are not for the belly, but for the washing of your bodies." That’s why you’ll see some old-school references to using whiskey for medicinal rubs or cleaning wounds.
But it doesn’t just stop at booze. It also bans "hot drinks," which the church has officially interpreted as tea and coffee. It encourages the use of herbs, fruits, and grains. There’s even a section that says meat should be eaten "sparingly" and only in times of winter or famine.
Interestingly, most people focus on the alcohol part. You don't see many Mormons getting in trouble for eating too much steak in the summer, even though the text mentions it. The focus on alcohol became the primary cultural marker. If you’re a Mormon, you don't drink. Period. It's the most visible way members "stand in holy places" and separate themselves from the world.
The Science and the "Promise"
Church members aren't just doing this to be difficult at parties. They believe there are literal physical and spiritual rewards. The scripture promises that those who follow these rules "shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones" and "shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint."
Is there science to back this up? Sorta.
The UCLA Enstrom study is often cited in these circles. It followed a large group of California Mormons for 25 years. The findings were pretty striking. The active members who didn't smoke or drink had one of the lowest death rates from cancer and cardiovascular disease in the United States. They lived, on average, 8 to 11 years longer than the general population.
That’s a huge deal.
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But for a believer, the physical health is just a bonus. The real goal is spiritual "attunement." The idea is that the body is a temple. If you clog that temple with substances that alter your mind or harm your health, you’re basically "muffling" your ability to hear the Holy Ghost. You want a clear head. You want to be in total control of your agency. Alcohol, in the LDS view, is a direct threat to that agency.
The Nuance: Cooking, Near-Beer, and Culture
This is where things get "kinda" complicated. What about cooking with wine? Some Mormons are totally fine with it, assuming the alcohol burns off. Others won't even keep a bottle of cooking sherry in the house because they don't want the appearance of evil.
Then there’s the "Mormon Beer" phenomenon. For decades, Utah had laws restricting grocery store beer to 3.2% alcohol by weight. Many people mistakenly thought this was a religious requirement. It wasn't. It was just a weird vestige of post-Prohibition law that the church-influenced legislature was slow to change. Today, you can get full-strength beer in Utah grocery stores, but you won't find many devout Mormons in that aisle.
What about "mocktails"?
They are huge in Utah.
Massive.
Since Mormons don't drink alcohol, they’ve perfected the art of the "dirty soda." We’re talking Diet Coke mixed with coconut syrup, lime, and cream. It’s their version of a happy hour. It fulfills that social need to grab a drink with friends without violating the Word of Wisdom. It’s a fascinating cultural workaround.
Why the Rule Matters More Than Ever Today
We live in a world where "mommy wine culture" is everywhere and craft breweries are the new town squares. In that environment, choosing not to drink is a radical act of identity. It’s a way for Mormons to remind themselves—and others—who they are every single day.
When a Mormon turns down a glass of champagne at a wedding toast, it’s not usually about being judgmental. It’s about a commitment they made, often when they were baptized at eight years old or when they went through the temple for the first time. It’s a badge of belonging.
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There’s also the darker side of the coin: addiction. The church emphasizes that by avoiding alcohol entirely, you eliminate the risk of alcoholism. They see it as a "fence law." If you never take the first sip, you can never become an addict. In a country struggling with substance abuse, that logic holds a lot of weight for LDS families.
Addressing the Common Misconceptions
Let's clear a few things up because there's a lot of noise out there.
First, Mormons don't think you're going to hell if you have a beer. Their theology is actually pretty expansive when it comes to the afterlife. They just believe that following the Word of Wisdom is necessary for the "highest degree of glory." It's about personal progression, not necessarily "fire and brimstone" for the neighbor who likes a Pinot Noir.
Second, the ban isn't just about the alcohol content. Some people ask, "What about non-alcoholic beer?" Most church leaders discourage it because it mimics the habit. It’s about the spirit of the law as much as the chemical composition.
Third, the "wine" in the Bible. This is a classic debate. Some Mormons argue that the wine Jesus made was actually unfermented grape juice. Most scholars (and most other Christians) think that’s a stretch. The modern LDS position is basically: "God gave a new revelation for our day because our modern challenges are different." They don't feel the need to prove that Jesus was a teetotaler; they just believe the rules changed in 1833.
Summary of Actionable Insights
If you’re looking to understand this lifestyle or are considering adopting parts of it for your own health, here’s how the Word of Wisdom actually functions in practice:
- Priority of Agency: The core reason for the ban is to maintain "agency" or the ability to make clear, rational choices without the influence of mind-altering substances.
- The Power of Community: It’s much easier to avoid alcohol when your entire social circle is doing the same. If you're trying to quit drinking, finding a "dry" community is the single most effective step you can take.
- Replacement, Not Just Removal: Mormons don't just "not drink." They replace that social habit with other rituals—family dinners, soda shops, and community service.
- Health as a Spiritual Duty: Viewing your body as a "temple" rather than just a machine changes how you fuel it. It’s a shift from "what am I allowed to do" to "what is best for my soul."
The decision to abstain from alcohol is one of the defining characteristics of the Mormon experience. It’s a mix of 19th-century history, 20th-century policy, and a deeply held belief that a clear mind is the best way to connect with the divine. Whether you agree with the theology or not, it’s hard to argue with the longevity and the tight-knit community that this shared discipline has helped create.
If you're interacting with LDS friends or traveling to a place like Salt Lake City, just remember that for them, the "no" to a drink is actually a "yes" to a very specific way of life they've been building for nearly two centuries.
Next Steps for Implementation
- Evaluate your "why": If you are looking to cut back on alcohol for health reasons, adopt the "temple" mindset. Focus on what you are gaining (clarity, health, longevity) rather than what you are losing.
- Find the "Dirty Soda" alternative: If you miss the social aspect of drinking, explore the world of complex non-alcoholic beverages. Using fresh herbs, high-quality syrups, and carbonation can satisfy the "ritual" of a drink without the alcohol.
- Read the source: If you want the full context, look up Section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants. It's a short read and provides the direct language that governs this entire cultural phenomenon.