Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Alcohol Abuse?
14 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Alcohol Abuse in the Bible
Discover 20 powerful Bible verses about alcohol abuse. Study what Scripture teaches about this essential sin & temptation topic.
Top 10 Verses About Alcohol Abuse
- 1Proverbs 11:17
“The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.”
KJV - 2Proverbs 20:1
“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”
KJV - 3Proverbs 21:17
“He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich. pleasure: or, sport”
KJV - 4Proverbs 23:29
“Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions ? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?”
KJV - 5Isaiah 5:11
“Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them! inflame: of, pursue”
KJV - 6Isaiah 5:22
“Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:”
KJV - 7Isaiah 28:1
“Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine! overcome: Heb. broken”
KJV - 8Isaiah 28:7
“But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.”
KJV - 9Luke 21:34
“And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.”
KJV - 10Romans 13:13
“Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. honestly: or, decently”
KJV
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Alcohol Abuse? (8 Verses)
“The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.”
“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”
“He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich. pleasure: or, sport”
“Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions ? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?”
“Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them! inflame: of, pursue”
“Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:”
“Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine! overcome: Heb. broken”
“But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.”
New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Alcohol Abuse? (6 Verses)
“And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.”
“Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. honestly: or, decently”
“It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.”
“Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;”
“The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; holiness: or, holy women false: or, one who foments strife”
How to Study What the Bible Says About Alcohol Abuse
- 1
Begin by reading through every verse listed on this page, noting which ones speak most directly to your current season of life. Write them down and revisit them throughout the week.
- 2
Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about alcohol abuse. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.
- 3
Study the context of each verse. Read the surrounding chapter to understand who was speaking, who the audience was, and what circumstances prompted the passage. Context prevents misapplication.
- 4
Memorise at least one key verse about alcohol abuse and meditate on it daily. Scripture memory transforms thinking and equips you to apply God's Word in real-time situations.
Practical Application
Studying what the Bible says about alcohol abuse is only the beginning. Scripture is meant to be lived out in daily obedience and faith. Here are practical steps to apply these truths:
Identify one area of your life where the biblical teaching on alcohol abuse needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about alcohol abuse with a fellow believer or in a small group setting. Teaching others solidifies your own understanding and encourages mutual growth.
Pray through the key verses about alcohol abuse, asking God to reveal how His Word applies to your relationships, decisions, and daily habits.
How Well Do You Know What the Bible Says About Alcohol Abuse?
You have studied 14 verses about alcohol abuse. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.