Is It a Sin to Drink Alcohol?

What the Bible says about drunkenness

On this point Scripture is clear, from Proverbs through the letters of Paul.

• Ephesians 5:18. “Don’t be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit”. Paul is describing daily life in the church, and he sets two influences side by side.
• Proverbs 20:1. “Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.” A warning about what alcohol does to judgment, and a common starting point for those who teach abstinence.
• Proverbs 23:29–30. “Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? Those who stay long at the wine”. The passage goes on to describe someone who wakes up and reaches for more.
• Galatians 5:21. “envy, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these”. Paul lists it among “the deeds of the flesh” (Galatians 5:19), in contrast to the fruit of the Spirit, which includes self-control.

Where the Bible speaks well of wine

The same Bible treats wine as one of the good things in life.

• Psalm 104:15. “wine that makes the heart of man glad, oil to make his face to shine, and bread that strengthens man’s heart.” A psalm of praise lists wine among God’s gifts, beside oil and bread.
• Deuteronomy 14:26. “for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatever your soul asks of you.” Families traveling to a festival could spend their tithe money this way and celebrate before God.
• 1 Timothy 5:23. “use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.” Paul’s advice to Timothy, offered as medicine. Notice the word little.
• Isaiah 25:6. “a feast of choice meat, a feast of choice wines”. God’s promised future is pictured as a banquet.

The Gospels show Jesus turning water into wine at a wedding (John 2) and sharing the cup at the Last Supper (Mark 14). Some Christians who teach abstinence argue that ancient wine was often watered down, or that the word could include fresh juice. Scholars disagree about how much that explains.

When the Bible asks people not to drink

Some people in Scripture gave up alcohol, for a time or for life.

• Priests on duty were not to drink “whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting” (Leviticus 10:9).
• Nazirites took a vow: “he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink” (Numbers 6:3).
• Church leaders. Overseers were to be “not a drinker” (1 Timothy 3:3), and servants of the church “not addicted to much wine” (1 Timothy 3:8).
• Anyone, for love’s sake. “It is good to not eat meat, drink wine, nor do anything by which your brother stumbles, is offended, or is made weak.” (Romans 14:21). Paul is writing about disputed matters, and his point is that freedom gives way to love. Our guide to reading a Bible verse in context can help you read the whole chapter.

How Christians see alcohol differently

Practice varies by country, by church and by household, so this is a broad picture.

Much of this goes back to the temperance movement of the 1800s, when many Protestants saw what heavy drinking did to families and began urging total abstinence. That’s how grape juice reached so many Communion tables. Thomas Welch, a Methodist, began pasteurizing it for that purpose in 1869.

Supporters of moderation point to wine’s good place in Scripture. Supporters of abstinence point to Romans 14, the harm alcohol can do, and how much stronger many modern drinks are.

If drinking has become hard to control

If you’re drinking more than you want to, if you’ve tried to cut back and can’t, or if someone who loves you is worried, you don’t have to figure this out alone. A doctor, a counselor or a support group such as Alcoholics Anonymous can help. If you drink heavily, talk to a doctor before you stop, because quitting suddenly can be dangerous.

The Bible knows this struggle. Proverbs 23 ends with the words of someone caught in it: “When will I wake up? I can do it again. I will look for more.” (Proverbs 23:35). Paul’s hard list in 1 Corinthians 6 includes drunkards, and he follows it with this: “Some of you were such, but you were washed.” (1 Corinthians 6:11). Asking for help can be how that change starts.

If you’re in recovery, not drinking is a complete answer to this question, whatever anyone else does. If someone else’s drinking has hurt you, support groups exist for you too.

Questions to think through

• Why do you drink? To enjoy a meal with friends, or to get through the day?
• Could you go a month without it and not mind much?
• Does drinking change how you treat people, or what you do afterward?
• Is anyone near you in recovery, or likely to follow your lead?
• Does alcohol have a hard history in your family?
• What has your church asked of you, and have you made any promise about it?

Common questions