I have been told many a times that I shouldn't eat beef because I am a Hindu by religion. Even though I have never worshiped a cow in my life or interacted with any on more than exotic basis, I find it hard to understand the logic behind not eating beef.

My argument against this has been the same as many others who choose to do those things which may or may not be explicitly forbidden in Hinduism. For instance, the consumption of alcohol is a controversial subject in Hinduism.

As a country India does not sell beef so I haven't been exposed to it earlier, but traveling often increased my curiosity and now I tend to not mind eating it.

Are there any specific logical or better arguments or textual facts which suggest that eating beef is explicitly forbidden in Hinduism except the idea of worshiping cows?