What does the Bible say about drinking?

Is it a sin to drink beer or wine?

The Bible actually has a lot to say about drinking alcohol.* To be clear though, back in those days, grape juice was indeed fermented (causing it to contain alcohol), but it may not have been fermented to the alcohol levels that are reached in modern wines. Still, we can't call what was drunk in the Bible simply "grape juice," but at the same time, we can't assume that wine in Bible times was the same potency as wine that is sold today.

That said, there is nothing in the Bible that forbids a Christian from drinking alcohol. We even see Jesus Himself drinking wine on occasion (John 2:1-11; Matthew 26:29). In fact, as His very first public miracle, Jesus changed water into wine at a wedding. And it wasn't just any cheap wine either; it was the good stuff! Even the master of the feast, who had no idea what Jesus had done, said to the bridegroom, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now" (John 2:1-11).

Keep in mind that in the days the New Testament chronicles, regular drinking water wasn't very clean. They didn't have sanitation systems and chemical purification for their water. That meant that the well water was often rich in bacteria, viruses, and other nastiness. (That's true for lots of third world countries today as well.)

Because the water had a tendency to make people sick, the beverage of choice was wine because the likelihood of contamination was pretty low. We can even read in 1 Timothy 5:23 that Paul tells Timothy not to drink the water because it was probably giving him a stomachache. So many people drank wine simply for health reasons. Indeed today, even the American Heart Association says a glass of red wine each day can be good so long as moderation is always kept in mind and there's no history of alcohol abuse.

Is drinking alcohol a sin?

Alcohol, in and of itself, is not inherently sinful. It's a thing, and a thing cannot be a sin. What CAN become a sin is what we DO with the alcohol. Drunkenness and addiction to alcohol are definitely two things that a Christian must avoid. Then there's the consideration we must have for our fellow believers and our example to the world as followers of Christ.

Drunkenness is a sin.

Ephesians 5:18 says, "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit." When too much alcohol gets in your system, your normally good judgment will become impaired (Proverbs 23:29-35). For the same reason why you shouldn't drink and drive, you shouldn't drink and try to make decisions about your words and actions. When we're not thinking clearly, we're not going to make good choices. Simple as that.

Anyway, 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." Could anyone make a logical argument that getting wasted would bring glory to God?

Addiction is a sin.

First Corinthians 6:12 addresses addiction by saying, "'All things are lawful for me,' but not all things are helpful. 'All things are lawful for me,' but I will not be dominated by anything." We should never allow anything to come between us and God, and any type of addiction will do that (1 Corinthians 6:12; 2 Peter 2:19). Letting alcohol "dominate" your life or actions goes against allowing the Holy Spirit to guide you. Again, too much alcohol in your system makes for bad decision-making.

Being a thoughtless jerk is a sin.

Okay, the Bible doesn't say that specific phrase, but the idea is still there. First Corinthians 8:9-13 is the passage that talks about not causing another believer to "stumble" in his spiritual walk. That is, if your drinking causes another Christian to be tempted to go against his conviction not to drink, then don't drink in front of him. We should be helping each other (1 Thessalonians 5:11), not making life harder.

Also, keep in mind that you are called to be a light to the world. Ephesians 5:8 says that "at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light." Stumbling around drunk doesn't exactly send the message of God's light and love. But there is nothing wrong with drinking responsibly with friends.

So it IS okay to drink alcohol?

You still have to follow the laws, my friend, so underage drinking is NOT OK. ☺ However, when you are of legal drinking age, there is nothing in the Bible that forbids a Christian from drinking beer, wine, or any other drink containing alcohol. There are even verses that talk about alcohol in positive terms. For example, Ecclesiastes 9:7 says to "drink your wine with a merry heart." Psalm 104:14-15 says that wine is a gift from God "that makes glad the heart of men."

Something to keep in mind...

We want to be sure to note that if you have family members who have struggled with alcoholism, it would be wise to steer clear yourself. You may have a genetic predisposition to getting addicted to alcohol. Matthew 26:41 says, "Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." There is no good reason to put yourself in a position where you could open up the serious problem of addiction.

Drinking alcohol in small quantities is not harmful to your health, and it will not automatically get you addicted after one drink. You have the freedom to drink or not drink alcohol—either is perfectly fine. What is NOT okay is drunkenness, addiction, or allowing your actions to harm others' relationships with you and God.

ALSO SEE:

• Should Christians smoke?
• What does the Bible say about vaping?
• What does the Bible say about using drugs?
• How can I overcome peer pressure?
• How can I overcome temptation?

* Check out these verses if you want to read up on some more of what the Bible has to say about alcohol: Leviticus 10:9; Numbers 6:3; Deuteronomy 29:6; Judges 13:4, 7, 14; Proverbs 20:1; 31:4; Isaiah 5:11, 22; 24:9; 28:7; 29:9; 56:12.