The term "hot drinks" is obviously rather vague. It was clarified to mean specifically coffee or tea, hot, or lukewarm (ha ha, get it, LUKEwarm, we're at a Star Wars site, get it? Ha ha ha).
As for why, "No, no, there is no why! *exasperated sigh* Nothing more will I teach you today."
Okay, I will teach you this one last thing, and then I will follow up on the other comments tomorrow. The reason for opposing such drinks is not given in the revelation. However, caffeine does have some minor negative implications and can be addictive, as has been shown through the success of Starbucks (Starbuck's? S'tarbucks?) and our country's heavy reliance on coffee. Based on my limited research, some evidence shows that coffee has negative effects on health, though I know that this is contradictory. The same can be said of tea, with its (it's? 'tis?) pluses and minuses. When the said revelation was given in 1833, the negative effects of tobacco and alcohol were not known, and yet they are well-known now. We churchy folks are happy to attribute this to the wisdom of God who knew before we did that these things just ain't good fer ya. We believe that he knows what is best, and thus we do not consume.
BTW, I enjoyed a nice hot Ovaltine (R) malt with marshmallows with my wife the other night. I sure enjoyed it :)
O! P.S. CP3S, FYI, I should add that I questioned the wisdom of starting this thread myself. However, I read what some people say online, and I wish I could at least clarify with some people what those weird Utah people (including those of us in Arizona), think. I don't mind honest, even blunt lines of questioning. I served my mission in Atlanta, GA where the door-to-door salesmen were looked upon more kindly (the nerve!). I can take it, as long as it's genuine and respectful. Your questions are truly fair and understandable, and are in fact the kind of things I'm looking to answer. So again, tomorrow you will have at least the beginnings of an answer :)