Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Drinking Alcohol?
12 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Drinking Alcohol in the Bible
Discover 16 powerful Bible verses about drinking alcohol. Study what Scripture teaches about this essential sin & temptation topic.
Top 10 Verses About Drinking Alcohol
- 1Leviticus 10:9
“Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:”
KJV - 2Psalms 104:14
“He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;”
KJV - 3Proverbs 20:1
“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”
KJV - 4Proverbs 23:20
“Be not among winebibbers ; among riotous eaters of flesh: of flesh: Heb. of their flesh”
KJV - 5Proverbs 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 - 6Ecclesiastes 9:7
“Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.”
KJV - 7Isaiah 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 - 8Isaiah 5:22
“Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:”
KJV - 9Romans 14:21
“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.”
KJV - 10Galatians 5:19
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,”
KJV
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Drinking Alcohol? (8 Verses)
“Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:”
“He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;”
“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”
“Be not among winebibbers ; among riotous eaters of flesh: of flesh: Heb. of their flesh”
“Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions ? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?”
“Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.”
“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:”
New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Drinking Alcohol? (4 Verses)
“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.”
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,”
“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;”
How to Study What the Bible Says About Drinking Alcohol
- 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 drinking alcohol. 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 drinking alcohol 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 drinking alcohol 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 drinking alcohol needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about drinking alcohol 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 drinking alcohol, 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 Drinking Alcohol?
You have studied 12 verses about drinking alcohol. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.