Alcohol and the Bible

Numerous verses of the Bible are critical of alcohol.

Proverbs 20:1-2 (ESV):

“  |  Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,

and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

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Isaiah 28:7 (ESV):

“  |  These also reel with wine

and stagger with strong drink;

the priest and the prophet reel with strong drink,

they are swallowed by wine,

they stagger with strong drink,

they reel in vision,

they stumble in giving judgment.

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Hosea 4:11 (ESV):

“  |  whoredom, wine, and new wine,

which take away the understanding.

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Despite this, Jesus chose wine as the drink to transform into His Precious Blood in the Eucharist. In Jesus's first miracle, He transformed water into wine at the wedding feast at Cana, resulting in praise (John 2:9-10 [ESV]):

“  |  When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, "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."  |  ”

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In more recent times, the occasional use of alcohol in social settings has become more acceptable. However, within Fundamentalist groups, any use of alcohol by Christians is condemned.