What does the Bible say about drinking alcohol?

Drunkenness is clearly warned against

Across both Testaments, getting drunk is treated as harmful. "Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler." Paul says "do not get drunk on wine" and instead be filled with the Spirit. Losing control and harming yourself or others is the concern.

Wine also appears as a gift

The Psalms speak of "wine that gladdens human hearts," and Jesus' first miracle in John's Gospel was turning water into wine at a wedding. Many Christians read these passages as showing that moderate drinking is not sinful in itself.

Why some Christians abstain

Other Christians and whole traditions choose not to drink at all. Reasons include the harm alcohol does in many families, love for people who struggle with it, and Paul's teaching about not causing others to stumble. This is a sincere conviction, not legalism.

If drinking has become a struggle

If alcohol feels hard to control, you are not alone and you are not beyond help. Addiction is real, and recovery often needs support: a doctor, a counsellor, a recovery group, or a trusted friend. Grace meets you there, not at the finish line.

Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise., Proverbs 20:1

wine that gladdens human hearts, oil to make their faces shine, and bread that sustains their hearts., Psalm 104:15