Why doesn't Donald Trump drink?

Looking at Donald Trump’s flair for boldness and drama, it’s difficult to believe that the former US President never have had alcohol in his life. His teetotaler ways have often led people to wonder what prompted him to stay away from booze and how he managed to avoid the temptation. Turns out Trump's decision to stay away from alcohol is a mix of personal and practical reasons that also root from his childhood. This experience in his early days shaped his personality and made him realise the power of self control.

Trump once joked that he had never had a glass of alcohol in his life. "Can you imagine if I had?" he mused. "What a mess I would be." And many would agree with this. So what is it real reason behind Trump’s abstinence. While Trump said the above-mentioned lines in a lighter vein, there is a serious story behind it. His decision to abstain from alcohol wasn’t just a personal preference—it became part of the unique, ultracompetitive persona that helped shape his life.

Alcohol and US Presidents

There is no dearth of prominent personalities and US Presidents that struggled with alcohol addiction that included Franklin Pierce, Andrew Johnson, and Ulysses S. Grant. George W. Bush quit drinking on his 40th birthday after deciding enough was enough, and Jimmy Carter kept hard liquor out of the White House to project his strait-laced image, Trump, however, took a different path altogether. He didn’t quit because he never started. And this is also the advice he gives to youngsters.

The story of Donald Trump’s abstinence

Your early life can leave a long-lasting impression and Trump’s life story is a testimony to that. His older brother, Fred Trump Jr., lost his life early and his struggles with alcoholism were behind his tragic demise at the age of just 43. The effects of this tragedy left a lasting impact on a young Donald who watched his brother battle a destructive disease. Donald also saw how his brother’s habit was disapproved by his father and his disdain for alcohol also strengthened his resolve to never touch alcohol in his life.

Trump's biographers agree that these childhood incidents shaped the former president’s views on alcohol. Determined to avoid the same fate as his brother’s, Trump chose a path of sobriety.

“As they’re downing scotches, he’s downing Diet Cokes,” Gwenda Blair, who has written about Mr. Trump and his family told New York Times. “It’s part of his ultracompetitive profile. This is a guy who is so competitive that his high school coach said he was the most coachable kid he had ever coached because unlike most kids, Donald remembered what he needed to do to win.”

Apart from this personal story and childhood trauma, Trump’s decision to abstain from alcohol was also strategic. According to Gwenda Blair, a writer who has delved into the Trump family saga, he realized early that staying away from alcohol gave him an edge in a brutal industry where business deals were frequently sealed over drinks. As a casino mogul in Atlantic City, Trump watched gamblers abandon their inhibitions and their money after a few rounds of free drinks. Trump observed that while others dulled their senses with scotch, he stayed sharp with his trust-worthy drink Diet Coke.

Trump’s advice to addicts

In a Fox News interview, Trump said the best way to avoid addiction is simply never to start. As someone who had seen powerful, successful men including his brother succumb to alcohol, he struggled to understand why they couldn’t stop once they began.

Staying alcohol free not only has a positive impact on mental health but could also help unlock your full potential. Perhaps, youngsters who are starting with their careers could prevent themselves from this cycle of destruction and benefit from Trump’s advice.
Opting to stay alcohol-free can amplify clarity, focus, and productivity—key components to a successful career. By avoiding the trap of substance reliance, young professionals can maximize their potential and set a strong foundation for the future.

How is alcohol injurious to health?
Alcohol consumption can have detrimental effects on health. Short-term effects include impaired judgment, coordination, dehydration, nausea, and blackouts. Long-term effects are more severe, including liver disease (fatty liver, hepatitis, cirrhosis), heart problems (cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias), and increased cancer risk (liver, breast, colorectal). Alcohol abuse can also lead to mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, and alcohol use disorders. Even moderate drinking carries health risks, emphasizing the importance of informed choices and moderation. Awareness of these effects helps in making healthier lifestyle decisions.

WHO says no level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health. “We cannot talk about a so-called safe level of alcohol use. It doesn’t matter how much you drink – the risk to the drinker’s health starts from the first drop of any alcoholic beverage. The only thing that we can say for sure is that the more you drink, the more harmful it is – or, in other words, the less you drink, the safer it is,” Dr Carina Ferreira-Borges, acting Unit Lead for Noncommunicable Disease Management and Regional Advisor for Alcohol and Illicit Drugs in the WHO Regional Office for Europe explains in a statement.

In sum, Donald Trump's decision to stay away from alcohol comes from his experiences with his brother's struggles with addiction and his desire to succeed in business. He believes that avoiding alcohol can lead to better health and help people reach their full potential. By sharing his story, he encourages others to make healthy choices and avoid addiction from the start.

Donald Trump's love for Diet Coke is well known and anyone who's following the US President knows he downs 12 cans of his favourite beverage every day. No wonder, when Trump returned to the Oval Office for a second, non-consecutive term, the familiar Diet Coke button returned. This red button, installed at his desk is used to order his favourite no-calorie fizzy drink.

Trump's decision to stay away from alcohol may be the secret success mantra that people may be looking for.