Why Don’t Mormons Drink Coffee and Tea?
Answer Capsule
Latter-day Saints do not drink coffee or tea because these drinks are prohibited by a health commandment known as the Word of Wisdom. This commandment specifically instructs members to avoid coffee and tea, and obedience to it is required for participation in temple ordinances. While many members associate the restriction with caffeine, the Church’s official teaching focuses on the substances named in the revelation rather than caffeine itself. Abstaining from coffee and tea has also made Latter-day Saints socially distinct, reinforcing religious identity and often prompting conversations about their beliefs.
Doctrine Explained
The Word of Wisdom instructs Church members to avoid “hot drinks,” a phrase that Church leaders have consistently interpreted as referring to coffee and tea. This instruction is treated as a commandment, and faithful members refrain from these beverages regardless of preparation method or temperature.
Many Latter-day Saints personally associate the prohibition with caffeine because coffee and tea are well-known sources of it. As a result, some members choose to avoid caffeinated drinks entirely, including soda and energy drinks. However, the Church has clarified that caffeine itself is not prohibited, and consuming caffeinated beverages does not affect one’s eligibility to attend temples.
Modern drinks such as soda were not common or widely available when the Word of Wisdom was revealed. Because the commandment specifically names coffee and tea, Church standards have remained focused on those substances rather than extending the restriction to newer beverages.
Scriptural and Official Sources
The Word of Wisdom is found in Doctrine and Covenants 89, which outlines principles of health and obedience. Church interpretation of coffee and tea is explained in the Gospel Topics article Word of Wisdom.
Why Latter-day Saints Believe This
Latter-day Saints believe that obedience to specific commandments, even when they set members apart socially, helps create a disciplined and covenant-focused community. Not drinking coffee or tea often makes members immediately recognizable in social or professional settings.
This distinctiveness has historically functioned as a quiet missionary tool. Questions about why members refuse common beverages frequently open conversations about faith, health, and belief in modern revelation.
Clarifying Common Misunderstandings
Latter-day Saints do not believe coffee or tea drinkers are immoral. The restriction applies only to those who choose to make and keep religious covenants within the Church.
Faithful Affirmation
Latter-day Saints affirm that God sometimes asks His people to live differently from surrounding culture. They believe these distinctions serve both spiritual and practical purposes.
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