Articles
What does the bible say about the use of alcohol?
The bible speaks to this subject more than lying, adultery, swearing, cheating, hypocrisy, pride and
blasphemy. There are well over 75 passages that speak of the use of intoxicating alcohol in an unfavorable way.
Note just a few- Prov. 4:17-it leads to violence; Prov. 20:1,2- it is a mocker and leads to uncontrolled anger and
foolish behavior; Prov. 23:21- it causes poverty; Prov. 23:29-30- it causes woe, sorrow, fighting babbling, and
numbs the feelings and senses. Prov. 23:31- tells us not to even look on it. In Prov. 31:4-7- it perverts good
judgment. Isa. 28:8 says that drinker’s table are covered with vomit and filth. 1 Cor. 6:10- drunkards will not inherit
the kingdom; in 1 Thess. 5:6-7- Drunkenness belongs to darkness and sin. In 1 Peter 4:3- this passage condemns the
consumption of intoxicants from the first drink to the extent of drunkenness. In other words, Peter tells us through
inspiration to stay away from all fermented alcohol. Sincer alcohol is the number one drug in our society, the total
abstinence from it would extend to any substance that alters our reason and good sense (like illicit drugs or all other
kinds). No one that I know of would lobby for a person to be a moderate drug addict, or a “social heroin or cocaine
consumer.” But the same people will insist that it is alright to have just a little alcohol as long as you do not get
drunk. Think about it, if it takes 3 drinks to make you over the limit, then one drink makes one third drunk.
Overall God’s position on the use of fermented alcohol is to abstain from it totally. We have plenty of beverages we
can drink that do not addle our minds. Why would one insist on social drinking (unless it is just something they like
and want to do)?
We have not even gone into the cost to society of alcohol use. In 2010 the economic cost of alcohol abuse in our
country was 249 billion dollars.
Productivity and healthcare expenses account for 83 percent of annual economic costs according to the CDC.
32 per cent of the total vehicle traffic fatalities in 2022 involved the use of alcohol.
About 3 of every ten people will be involved in an alcohol related accident at some time in the next 10 years.
55 per cent of domestic abuse cases involved alcohol. 40 per cent of all child abuse issues are connected to alcohol
also.
40 percent of all divorces involve alcohol abuse.
Not only does the Bible condemn the use of intoxicants in any form, society would verify and back up the harm it
causes and the pain it causes.
