Hello there <steps on a soap box for just a few min> I seem to find a lot of the celebrations on this thread after leaving the Mormon Church show a drink in hand, or include a nod to the virtues of now drinking. This is fine, but doesn't have to be so. It can become a problem for some while grappling with finding a new identity, and similar personal care after leaving the church. Maybe you will have an unknown genetic proclivity to addiction, or perhaps it will exacerbate some form of undiagnosed mental illness. Just know there are many non-Mormons who don't drink for any number of reasons: they're Hindu, Muslim, vegan, yogis, Crossfitters - or simply don't like the taste of alcohol, the feeling of being drunk, or potentially having a hangover the morning after drinking. Maybe by choosing to drink you set the wrong example for one of your children who then sets out on an unproductive path. You don't have to 'acquire a taste' for beer, wine, or other alcoholic drinks. Some will find that even after a few drinks they're a little foggy the next day. Again, this is simply a small note that it's OK not to drink after leaving Mormonism - and some will find moreover that it's better to abstain. <steps off the soapbox>

Want to learn more - you can head over to r/stopdrinking. There you will find - yes, folks who struggle with alcohol - but also people who have simply challenged themselves to not drink for 30 days, 60 days, or forever as lifestyle choices.

My $0.02