What Does the Bible Say About Drinking Alcohol?
What does the Bible say about drinking alcohol? The Bible addresses alcohol with remarkable honesty and nuance. It recognizes that wine and strong drink can be blessings from God when used rightly, yet warns of their destructive potential when abused. From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture presents a balanced perspective: wine can gladden the heart, but drunkenness leads to ruin.
In biblical times, wine and beer were common parts of daily life. They symbolized joy, abundance, and divine favor, but they could also expose folly and invite judgment when consumed without restraint. The issue, therefore, is not the existence of alcohol itself but the heart and habits of those who drink it. The Bible teaches moderation, self-control, and love for others as guiding principles for the Christian life.
1) Wine as a Gift from God
The Bible consistently acknowledges that wine is a good gift created by God for human enjoyment and blessing. Psalm 104:14–15 declares that God “causes the grass to grow for the cattle and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth and wine to gladden the heart of man.”
Wine in the Old Testament:
A symbol of joy: Wine was often used in feasts and celebrations (Ecclesiastes 9:7; Judges 9:13).
A sign of God’s favor: In Deuteronomy 7:13 and Amos 9:14, abundant wine symbolizes prosperity and covenant blessing.
A part of worship: Wine accompanied sacrifices and offerings in the temple (Exodus 29:40).
The Bible’s positive view of wine reminds believers that creation itself is good when received with gratitude. As 1 Timothy 4:4–5 says, “Everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.”
However, this blessing is never without boundaries. God’s gifts, when misused, become sources of sin. Just as food can become gluttony and sex can become immorality, wine can become drunkenness. The same gift that gladdens the heart can enslave it if not handled with wisdom.
2) The Warnings about Alcohol and Drunkenness
While the Bible permits drinking, it repeatedly warns against drunkenness. The danger lies not in the liquid itself but in excess and lack of self-control. Drunkenness distorts judgment, dulls spiritual sensitivity, and leads to shame and conflict.
Biblical Warnings:
Moral and mental corruption: “Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise” (Proverbs 20:1).
Loss of self-control: “Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).
Consequences of excess: Noah’s drunkenness led to shame (Genesis 9:20–21), and Lot’s intoxication led to moral collapse (Genesis 19:32–35).
Destructive influence: Proverbs 23:29–35 vividly depicts the physical and emotional wreckage of addiction—pain, sorrow, and confusion.
The biblical response to these dangers is discipline. Christians are called to be sober-minded (1 Peter 5:8) and to let the Holy Spirit, not substances, govern their hearts. The wisdom literature sums it up: “Look not on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup... at the last it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder” (Proverbs 23:31–32).
3) Moderation and the Principle of Liberty
The New Testament upholds moderation as the guiding principle for Christian conduct. Jesus himself drank wine (Matthew 11:19) and even turned water into wine at the wedding in Cana (John 2:1–11), demonstrating that wine can accompany joy without sin. Yet, the same Jesus warns his followers against hearts weighed down “with dissipation and drunkenness” (Luke 21:34).
Paul’s letters emphasize both freedom and responsibility:
Freedom: “All things are lawful,” Paul says, “but not all things are helpful” (1 Corinthians 10:23).
Responsibility: “It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble” (Romans 14:21).
These verses define Christian liberty as love-informed restraint. A believer may partake in moderation, but should abstain if it would harm their witness, offend a weaker conscience, or endanger someone struggling with addiction. The measure of freedom is not what one can do, but what best expresses love (1 Corinthians 8:9–13).
Practical Guidelines for Moderate Use:
Drink with gratitude, not indulgence. Every act of consumption should begin with thanksgiving.
Avoid drunkenness entirely. The line between enjoyment and excess is the threshold of sin.
Be sensitive to context. In the presence of recovering alcoholics, abstain out of love.
Maintain control. Self-control is the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23).
4) Abstinence as Wisdom in Certain Situations
The Bible never commands universal abstinence from alcohol, but it recognizes situations where abstaining is wise or even necessary. Priests on duty were forbidden to drink (Leviticus 10:9), and Nazirites took vows of abstinence as acts of dedication (Numbers 6:1–4). Paul also advised Timothy to use “a little wine for the sake of your stomach” (1 Timothy 5:23), implying that abstinence or moderation depends on purpose and context.
When Abstinence May Be Best:
In leadership or ministry: Leaders must be sober-minded and not addicted to much wine (1 Timothy 3:2–3).
Around those struggling with addiction: Love requires laying aside freedom for another’s good (Romans 14:15).
To avoid temptation: For those with a personal weakness toward excess, abstinence can be an act of obedience and wisdom.
The Bible’s wisdom on alcohol is therefore not uniform prohibition but moral discernment. The goal is holiness, not merely abstinence; freedom, not indulgence. Whether one drinks or abstains, both should aim to glorify God (1 Corinthians 10:31).
5) Alcohol, Joy, and the Gospel
The Bible’s redemptive story transforms even the way we think about wine. Wine symbolizes both blessing and judgment throughout Scripture—joy in God’s presence or wrath for rebellion. In the prophets, wine represents abundance in the coming kingdom (Joel 3:18), while in Revelation it becomes the “wine of the wrath of God” poured out on the ungodly (Revelation 14:10).
In the Gospel, Jesus redeems this imagery at the Last Supper. Holding the cup, he declares, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28). The cup of wine becomes a sign of salvation, not indulgence—a picture of divine generosity and self-giving love.
For the Christian, therefore, the question is not merely whether to drink, but how to honor Christ in every choice. Alcohol, like any earthly gift, must point us back to the Giver. The cup can remind believers of joy, communion, and sacrifice when received with a clear conscience and a thankful heart.
6) The Christian’s Call to Wisdom and Self-Control
The Bible’s view of alcohol ultimately calls believers to maturity. Freedom without discipline leads to bondage, but discipline under grace leads to joy. The wise person learns to enjoy God’s gifts without letting them rule the heart.
Key Takeaways for Christians:
Alcohol is neither inherently sinful nor automatically righteous—it is morally neutral, but spiritually revealing.
Drunkenness is always condemned as rebellion against God’s order.
Moderation guided by love and gratitude reflects biblical wisdom.
Abstinence, when chosen for conscience or compassion, is a noble expression of freedom.
Every decision about alcohol should flow from the desire to glorify God and love others.
The Bible calls Christians to be filled not with wine, but with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). In doing so, believers bear witness to a kingdom where joy is pure, peace is lasting, and fellowship is unbroken—the true feast that earthly wine only dimly reflects.
Bible Verses about Drinking Alcohol
“Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.” (Proverbs 20:1)
“Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.” (Proverbs 21:17)
“Look not on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup.” (Proverbs 23:31)
“Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress.” (Proverbs 31:6)
“Wine to gladden the heart of man.” (Psalm 104:15)
“Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:18)
“It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.” (Romans 14:21)
“Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do.” (Ecclesiastes 9:7)
“No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach.” (1 Timothy 5:23)
“Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)
