105 Bible Verses about Drunkenness

The Bible offers a lot of guidance about alcohol. Leviticus 10:9¹ says, "You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the tent of meeting, or you will die. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come." This passage doesn't mean we can't ever have a drink. Alcohol itself isn't sinful.

However, the Bible is very clear that we should steer clear of drunkenness and addiction. Ephesians 5:18² tells us, "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit." And 1 Corinthians 6:12³ reminds us, "‘I have the right to do anything,’ you say—but not everything is beneficial. ‘I have the right to do anything’—but I will not be mastered by anything."

So, think about it. While enjoying a drink might not be wrong in itself, it's important to be mindful and make sure it's not controlling you. It's about living a life that honors God and allows the Holy Spirit to guide you.

Don’t be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,

Let’s walk properly, as in the day; not in revelling and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and lustful acts, and not in strife and jealousy.

nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortionists, will inherit God’s Kingdom.

Now therefore please beware and drink no wine nor strong drink, and don’t eat any unclean thing;

Woe to those who rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink, who stay late into the night, until wine inflames them!

Prostitution, wine, and new wine take away understanding.

Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.

Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish, and wine to the bitter in soul.

It is good to not eat meat, drink wine, nor do anything by which your brother stumbles, is offended, or is made weak.

envy, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practise such things will not inherit God’s Kingdom.

“Woe to him who gives his neighbour drink, pouring your inflaming wine until they are drunk, so that you may gaze at their naked bodies!

for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes them in rags.

Now the deeds of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, Behold, I, Paul, tell you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing. idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practise such things will not inherit God’s Kingdom.

Woe to those who are mighty to drink wine, and champions at mixing strong drink;

Servants, in the same way, must be reverent, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for money,

Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? Don’t be desirous of his dainties, since they are deceitful food. Those who stay long at the wine; those who go to seek out mixed wine. Don’t look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly. In the end, it bites like a snake, and poisons like a viper. Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will imagine confusing things. Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the middle of the sea, or as he who lies on top of the rigging: “They hit me, and I was not hurt! They beat me, and I don’t feel it! When will I wake up? I can do it again. I will look for more.”

Woe to those who rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink, who stay late into the night, until wine inflames them! The harp, lyre, tambourine, and flute, with wine, are at their feasts; but they don’t respect the work of the LORD, neither have they considered the operation of his hands.

Don’t be amongst ones drinking too much wine, or those who gorge themselves on meat; for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes them in rags.

Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

He causes the grass to grow for the livestock, and plants for man to cultivate, that he may produce food out of the earth: wine that makes the heart of man glad, oil to make his face to shine, and bread that strengthens man’s heart.

It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’ lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.

“So be careful, or your hearts will be loaded down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day will come on you suddenly.

But as it is, I wrote to you not to associate with anyone who is called a brother who is a sexual sinner, or covetous, or an idolater, or a slanderer, or a drunkard, or an extortionist. Don’t even eat with such a person.

Whoever loves correction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.

Their sorrows shall be multiplied who give gifts to another god. Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer, nor take their names on my lips.

They also reel with wine, and stagger with strong drink. The priest and the prophet reel with strong drink. They are swallowed up by wine. They stagger with strong drink. They err in vision. They stumble in judgement.

Then the Lord awakened as one out of sleep, like a mighty man who shouts by reason of wine. He struck his adversaries backward. He put them to a perpetual reproach.

They grope in the dark without light. He makes them stagger like a drunken man.

Happy are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with the drunkards,

When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you; Don’t move the ancient boundary stone. Don’t encroach on the fields of the fatherless, for their Defender is strong. He will plead their case against you. Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to the words of knowledge. Don’t withhold correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not die. Punish him with the rod, and save his soul from Sheol. My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad, even mine. Yes, my heart will rejoice when your lips speak what is right. Don’t let your heart envy sinners, but rather fear the LORD all day long. Indeed surely there is a future hope, and your hope will not be cut off. Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path! put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite. Don’t be amongst ones drinking too much wine, or those who gorge themselves on meat; for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes them in rags. Listen to your father who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old. Buy the truth, and don’t sell it. Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding. The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him. Let your father and your mother be glad! Let her who bore you rejoice! My son, give me your heart; and let your eyes keep in my ways. For a prostitute is a deep pit; and a wayward wife is a narrow well. Yes, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful amongst men. Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? Don’t be desirous of his dainties, since they are deceitful food.

A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My lord delays his coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink and to be drunken,

Don’t be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Walk in love, even as Christ also loved us and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance. giving thanks always concerning all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;

Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish, and wine to the bitter in soul. Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

Those who sit in the gate talk about me. I am the song of the drunkards.

Whoever loves wisdom brings joy to his father; but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.

Whether therefore you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

and that older women likewise be reverent in behaviour, not slanderers nor enslaved to much wine, teachers of that which is good,

for God’s Kingdom is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

wine that makes the heart of man glad, oil to make his face to shine, and bread that strengthens man’s heart.

Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise. Differing weights and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD. Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right. The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD has made even both of them. Don’t love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread. “It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasts. There is gold and abundance of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel. Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman. Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel. Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war! He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips. The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.

But I tell you that I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on, until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s Kingdom.”

I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to lay hold of folly, until I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their lives.

They will not drink wine with a song. Strong drink will be bitter to those who drink it.

For we have spent enough of our past time doing the desire of the Gentiles, and having walked in lewdness, lusts, drunken binges, orgies, carousings, and abominable idolatries.

Don’t eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, and don’t crave his delicacies, for as he thinks about the cost, so he is. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you. You will vomit up the morsel which you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.

Now the deeds of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness,

Don’t fret because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness. For yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more. Yes, though you look for his place, he isn’t there. But the humble shall inherit the land, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth. The Lord will laugh at him, for he sees that his day is coming. The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, to kill those who are upright on the path. Their sword shall enter into their own heart. Their bows shall be broken. Better is a little that the righteous has, than the abundance of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous. The LORD knows the days of the perfect. Their inheritance shall be forever. They shall not be disappointed in the time of evil. In the days of famine they shall be satisfied. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither like the green herb.

Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.

The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father; but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

For my life is spent with sorrow, my years with sighing. My strength fails because of my iniquity. My bones are wasted away.

Be no longer a drinker of water only, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.

Let’s walk properly, as in the day; not in revelling and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and lustful acts, and not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, for its lusts.

Penalties are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools.

“They hit me, and I was not hurt! They beat me, and I don’t feel it! When will I wake up? I can do it again. I will look for more.”

I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labour, is the gift of God.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Praise the LORD, my soul! All that is within me, praise his holy name! He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor repaid us for our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his loving kindness towards those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. Like a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him. For he knows how we are made. He remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass. As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone. Its place remembers it no more. But the LORD’s loving kindness is from everlasting to everlasting with those who fear him, his righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep his covenant, to those who remember to obey his precepts. The LORD has established his throne in the heavens. His kingdom rules over all. Praise the LORD, my soul, and don’t forget all his benefits,

Or don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, Don’t you know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Don’t be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

My son, don’t forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine. My son, don’t despise the LORD’s discipline, neither be weary of his correction; for whom the LORD loves, he corrects, even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights. Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding. For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her. Length of days is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her. Happy is everyone who retains her. By wisdom the LORD founded the earth. By understanding, he established the heavens. for they will add to you length of days, years of life, and peace.

in whose eyes a vile man is despised, but who honours those who fear the LORD; he who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and doesn’t change;

Therefore let’s also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with perseverance the race that is set before us, For they indeed for a few days disciplined us as seemed good to them, but he for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness. All chastening seems for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore lift up the hands that hang down and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man will see the Lord, looking carefully lest there be any man who falls short of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you and many be defiled by it, lest there be any sexually immoral person or profane person, like Esau, who sold his birthright for one meal. For you know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for a change of mind though he sought it diligently with tears. For you have not come to a mountain that might be touched and that burnt with fire, and to blackness, darkness, storm, the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which those who heard it begged that not one more word should be spoken to them, looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Don’t you know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, which you are.

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. no evil shall happen to you, neither shall any plague come near your dwelling. For he will put his angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, so that you won’t dash your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and cobra. You will trample the young lion and the serpent underfoot. “Because he has set his love on me, therefore I will deliver him. I will set him on high, because he has known my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him, and honour him. I will satisfy him with long life, and show him my salvation.” I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.”

He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a quick temper displays folly.

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but a kind word makes it glad.

For the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy, says: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,

If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna.

Can a man scoop fire into his lap, and his clothes not be burnt? Or can one walk on hot coals, and his feet not be scorched? So is he who goes in to his neighbour’s wife. Whoever touches her will not be unpunished.

Yet if because of food your brother is grieved, you walk no longer in love. Don’t destroy with your food him for whom Christ died.

Don’t you know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run like that, so that you may win. Every man who strives in the games exercises self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. I therefore run like that, not aimlessly. I fight like that, not beating the air, but I beat my body and bring it into submission, lest by any means, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.

For the overseer must be blameless, as God’s steward, not self-pleasing, not easily angered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain;

One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.

But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation, a snare, and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and destruction.

Watch and pray, that you don’t enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.

Though he stumble, he shall not fall, for the LORD holds him up with his hand.

Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate to one another; in honour prefer one another, not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope, enduring in troubles, continuing steadfastly in prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, and given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless, and don’t curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind one towards another. Don’t set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Don’t be wise in your own conceits. Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honourable in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men. Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.” Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Turn my heart towards your statutes, not towards selfish gain.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,

The merciful man does good to his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.

For the fool will speak folly, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise profanity, and to utter error against the LORD, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and to cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.

To you, LORD, I lift up my soul. All the paths of the LORD are loving kindness and truth to such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. For your name’s sake, LORD, pardon my iniquity, for it is great. What man is he who fears the LORD? He shall instruct him in the way that he shall choose. His soul will dwell at ease. His offspring will inherit the land. The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him. He will show them his covenant. My eyes are ever on the LORD, for he will pluck my feet out of the net. Turn to me, and have mercy on me, for I am desolate and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged. Oh bring me out of my distresses. Consider my affliction and my travail. Forgive all my sins. Consider my enemies, for they are many. They hate me with cruel hatred. My God, I have trusted in you. Don’t let me be shamed. Don’t let my enemies triumph over me.

Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to the words of knowledge. Don’t withhold correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not die. Punish him with the rod, and save his soul from Sheol.

That servant who knew his lord’s will, and didn’t prepare nor do what he wanted, will be beaten with many stripes, but he who didn’t know, and did things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few stripes. To whomever much is given, of him will much be required; and to whom much was entrusted, of him more will be asked.

envy, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practise such things will not inherit God’s Kingdom. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,

In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.

Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light for my path.

Don’t be deceived! “Evil companionships corrupt good morals.”

Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man will see the Lord,

rejoicing in hope, enduring in troubles, continuing steadfastly in prayer,

Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

so then let’s not sleep, as the rest do, but let’s watch and be sober.

Have you found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for you, lest you eat too much, and vomit it.

I will delight myself in your commandments, because I love them.

Therefore don’t let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. Also, do not present your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

Let’s not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season if we don’t give up.

Those who love your law have great peace. Nothing causes them to stumble.

not a drinker, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;

Prayer