Mitt Romney Has Tried Alcohol, Cigarettes

The fact that Mitt Romney is a Mormon is well known at this point. His faith has been discussed, criticized and defended. Which is why it actually is somewhat shocking to learn a fact that, if said about any candidate other than Romney, would probably elicit a quizzical look and a duh. That fact? Romney has tried alcohol. And smoked a cigarette.

I tasted a beer and tried a cigarette once, as a wayward teenager, and never did it again, Romney says in an upcoming interview with People magazine, according to Politico.

Drinking a beer or smoking goes against one of the more infamous tenants of the Mormon faith. A part of the Doctrine and Covenants followed by the Latter-Day Saints forbids smoking, drinking alcohol or consuming hot drinks, i.e. coffee or tea.

Romney's Mormon faith came up in a big way in October when Robert Jeffries, a pastor who supports Rick Perry, called Mormonism a cult and declared that Mormons are not Christians. There has been some speculation that Romney's faith would hurt him in a general election because it would be more difficult to get the evangelical base out to the polls.