Pepsi, Coke, Rootbeer... Yes or No?

[AngelMarvel]

I remember years ago... like 42 years ago when I was baptized we used to have dime-a-dip dinners at Church. Someone always made homemade root beer.

I was always told we were not allowed to drink cola drinks so that's why we had the root beer. But, the other day when I was reading through some posts in this forum, I noticed someone said something like, "and some people still think we can't drink coke". It wasn't those exact words...but, something like that. (Can't find that post now).

Anyway... so for 42 years I always thought cola was a NO NO and we could really only drink root beer or things without caffeine.

One day while we were having a Christmas party in RS, the RS President gave her Counselor a Dr. Pepper for a present...they said it was her favorite. I was shocked because I thought Dr. Pepper was a cola drink too.

So... my question is, are cola drinks a YES or a NO?

And, just so you know... yes, I drink Pepsi once in a while but always felt guilty drinking it. But, it taste delicious when we go to the movies and have popcorn. Root beer just doesn't have the kind of taste with popcorn.

Thanks in advance for your responds.

Angel

[pam]

There is nothing in the Word of Wisdom that states we can't drink a cola drink.

Common sense does prevail though when you think of health. Caffeine is not healthy. I'm a long time drinker of Mt. Dew. Do I feel guilty? Nope. Though I do know the adverse affects it has on my health and I probably should give it up.

[Backroads]

Are cola drinks strictly prohibited by the Word of Wisdom?

No.

Do some individuals feel cola drinks' health consequences are not in line with the Word of Wisdom?

Yes.

I'd say the simple answer to your question is that yes, there's really nothing against cola drinks. If drinking them goes against your personal interpretation of the WoW, don't drink them and feel free to feel guilty if you do.

But I wouldn't feel guilty about breaking some rule a GA gave.

I personally love Coke. Pepsi is of the devil, but I love Coca Cola.

[Praetorian_Brow]

In some circles the caffeine content is shunned as some think the spirit of the Word of Wisdom extends beyond coffee and I agree somewhat. Where I grew up within the church, caffeine was an unthinkable taboo and when it was broken, it was free game to speak of in hushed tones.

Personally, I don't judge too much as Word of Wisdom is the least of my problems, but I will say that I don't drink caffeinated beverages to this day.

Honestly, I would be more afraid of Redbull or certain energy drinks than a Pepsi, even if Pepsi tastes much better than Coke.

[Backroads]

There is nothing in the Word of Wisdom that states we can't drink a cola drink.

Common sense does prevail though when you think of health. Caffeine is not healthy. I'm a long time drinker of Mt. Dew. Do I feel guilty? Nope. Though I do know the adverse affects it has on my health and I probably should give it up.

I have a glass of Mt. Dew right here.

My grandmother, rest her soul, was against caffeine of all sorts. Once, whilst shopping with my mom and her friend, she felt the pains of thirst and asked for a sip of my mom's fountain drink. My mom, when Grandma asked what it was, said it was a refreshing citrus drink. My grandma drank, and loved it. Thereafter, she would ask for that refreshing citrus drink, which was then given to her in generic containers.

She went to her death bed not knowing she drank Mt. Dew.

[Just_A_Guy]

Some Church leaders in the past have interpreted the Word of Wisdom as applying to cola drinks and/or caffeine, and the idea has gained some popularity in the LDS Church. If the Spirit tells you to stay away from them, by all means obey the Spirit.

But the Word of Wisdom, in the official interpretation (that is "adapted for the capacity of the weak and weakest of all saints"), does not prohibit cola drinks.

[Vort]

Cola drinks are NOT specifically prohibited by the Word of Wisdom. Anyone who says otherwise is wrong.

But that doesn't mean cola drinks are good for you, or that they don't violate the pirit of the Word of Wisdom. I think they most definitely do (speaking as one who drinks Mountain Dew on occasion).

I love homemade root beer. Too bad no one makes it any more. (It does have trace amounts of alcohol, by the way.)

[Backroads]

Honestly, I would be more afraid of Redbull or certain energy drinks than a Pepsi, even if Pepsi tastes much better than Coke.

I agree with the first half of the sentence.

[EarlJibbs]

[As I am sipping my Mountain Dew this very moment] nothing wrong with it. :)

[Praetorian_Brow]

Uncouth Coke drinker!

[Backroads]

I too love homemade rootbeer. I found a delicious Amish recipe of it that is pretty tame on the trace amounts of alcohol.

[Quin]

"Finally, another small correction: Despite what was reported, the Church revelation spelling out health practices (Doctrine and Covenants 89) does not mention the use of caffeine. The Church’s health guidelines prohibit alcoholic drinks, smoking or chewing of tobacco, and “hot drinks” — taught by Church leaders to refer specifically to tea and coffee. *"

Mormonism in the News: Getting It Right | August 29

.... Although, just so you know, many -if not most- root beers have caffeine in them. Barqs, for example, is pretty on par with coke or mtn dew. Some brands don't (a&aw used to make a caffeine free version... Don't know if they still do or not, mugg I *believe* is caffeine free -but I don't like it, so don't know for sure-)

Ahem.

And CHOCOLATE has caffeine in it.

Q

[Backroads]

I'd like to turn this back to the OP's original intent.

As much as I do like Coke and stuff, I am against the notion of drinking such things too frequently.

I worked with a woman who would for through two liters of Diet Coke every day. Each day, she would show up at school with two bottles, ready for drinking. I probably have my own unhealthy habits, so I'm more using this as a anectdote than really judging her, but I don't think that was healthy.

I try to keep Coke as an occasional treat.

[Wingnut]

.... Although, just so you know, many -if not most- root beers have caffeine in them. Barqs, for example, is pretty on par with coke or mtn dew. Some brands don't (a&aw used to make a caffeine free version... Don't know if they still do or not, mugg I *believe* is caffeine free -but I don't like it, so don't know for sure-)

Barq's is the only "big" brand of root beer that I know of that actually does have caffeine in it, and it's pretty nasty.

[Bini]

A big fat NO for me.

That stuff just isn't good for you body from a health standpoint. I don't even let my daughter drink any of it, and we don't ever have it on our house, and we never ever order it when we are out. Water only, and sometimes, juice.

[AngelMarvel]

I think when we go on date night and we have our popcorn and diet Pepsi (Coke yuck)... I will enjoy more now. I only drink it maybe once a month and just a small one, so I don't think it will hurt my body to much. Other than that little bit of diet Pepsi I consume, I don't eat or drink anything bad. Like.. I don't eat sugars (cake, cookies, pies etc. and never drink any alcohol).

My favorite drink is actually carbonated water with lemon... seltzer water but there is only one movie theater that I have found that has that as a drink.

Thanks for all of your replies.

[Vort]

And CHOCOLATE has caffeine in it.

Chocolate contains almost no caffeine. It contains theobromine, a chemical related to but distinct from caffeine.

[The Folk Prophet]

I have personal experience with caffeine addiction and the breaking of it. But a blanket statement of caffeine being bad for you isn't fairly accurate. Caffeine can be bad for you. It can also be good for you. Depends on how it is used. I am careful to avoid addictive use of it still. Don't want the migraines back. But I will use it to help with a simple headache or energy for a heavy workout.

The advise, as I understand it, is to avoid addictive things. Taken to its extreme, that would rightly include sugar too. I can't see anyone reasonably arguing that to keep the word of wisdom we must treat sugar the same as we treat coffee or alcohol. But we should, probably, make some efforts to keep our sugar intake from being addictive, or anything close to it. So it is with caffeine, IMHO.

[skippy740]

Barq's is the only "big" brand of root beer that I know of that actually does have caffeine in it, and it's pretty nasty.

Barq's is the BEST brand of root beer! Mugs and A&W just miss the mark.

BTW, just to spoil everybody's fun... Sunkist soda also has caffeine. :)

[Irishcolleen]

Soda isn't good for you even if it lacks caffeine or sugar. It is ok for a treat. To kick the soda habit, I started drinking sparkling water (La Croix, Perrier, San Pellagrino, etc...). Sparkling water is refreshing and delicious. I'd save a lot of money if I switched to just plain water, but I love the fizzy feeling.

[Irishcolleen]

My favorite drink is actually carbonated water with lemon... seltzer water but there is only one movie theater that I have found that has that as a drink.

Thanks for all of your replies.

Mine, too! But I prefer lime to lemon.

[The Folk Prophet]

Soda isn't good for you even if it lacks caffeine or sugar. It is ok for a treat. To kick the soda habit, I started drinking sparkling water (La Croix, Perrier, San Pellagrino, etc...). Sparkling water is refreshing and delicious. I'd save a lot of money if I switched to just plain water, but I love the fizzy feeling.

Yes, but is it 'bad' for you? Obviously in excess...but that's true of anything. I guess the question is, when does it become excessive?

Also, not good for you could be debated I think. What is 'good'? If one had access to no liquid but caffeine free diet soda when stranded on a raft in the middle of the ocean, I would dare say that drinking the soda would keep you alive significantly longer than drinking nothing. I guess it goes to the 'good, better, best' philosophy.

[Roseslipper]

When I joined the church almost 35 yrs ago I was told by the missionary's that it was against the wow to have caffeinenated drinks. So I had to give up pepsi which I drank alot of. Through the yrs I've seen some members drink them til this day I didnt know if it was right or wrong. Thou I know the effects to ur health. But yrs later I went back to drinking pepsi once in a while mostly when I was tired + @ work and I needed a caffine lift.have drank the others as well. Pepsi and dr pepper r my fav. But I mostly drink good old fashion water @ times ill put in a lemon. Sodas dont quinch my thirst but water does.

[Traveler]

Bruce R. McConckie was a noted authority and scholar concerning "Mormon Doctrine" was once asked if drinking soda with caffeine was against the Word of Wisdom. He answered "No, drinking caffeinated sodas was not against the Word of Wisdom but neither is drinking gasoline.

The Traveler

[Vort]

Bruce R. McConckie was a noted authority and scholar concerning "Mormon Doctrine" was once asked if drinking soda with caffeine was against the Word of Wisdom. He answered "No, drinking caffeinated sodas was not against the Word of Wisdom but neither is drinking gasoline.

I always (almost) enjoyed Elder McConkie's straightforward style.