Alcoholic beverages in different forms have been an accepted and expected part of life since before written history. Millennia before the days of canning and refrigeration, people discovered that produce like grapes and barley did not keep well, but that their fermented products (wine and beer, for example) remained palatable much longer. During some periods in history, the beverage of choice was not water, tea or milk but beer or ale—even for children.

Nowadays, authors of various health news articles tout alcoholic beverages, and red wine in particular, as offering many health benefits, including increasing antioxidant levels and lowering the risk of heart attacks and some cancers. But other researchers claim that the same red wine actually contributes to certain cancers and increased triglycerides, and express concern that the extra calories may encourage weight gain. The most recent studies seem to contradict many of these negative findings, but when reading someone else’s interpretation of a study, it can be hard to sort out the conflicting reports and determine exactly what is truth and what is hype.

Should we even drink alcohol at all? Prohibitionists sometimes used religion and the Bible to preach their anti-alcohol message, and even today some churches continue to oppose the consumption of alcohol. What we find within the Bible may therefore come as a surprise.

King Solomon, renowned for his wisdom, warned that wine is not for kings and that strong drink is dangerous for rulers and, by extension, anyone else in a position of making important decisions (see Proverbs 31:4). The Old Testament has plenty of examples warning of the dangers of drinking to excess. Priests were not allowed to drink alcohol before performing their duties in the holy tabernacle, under penalty of death (Leviticus 10:9). Excessive consumption of any intoxicating drink is pronounced an evil that leads to woe, sorrow and trouble (Proverbs 23:20–21, 29–35).

Yet Jesus’ first miracle was turning water into wine at a wedding feast (John 2:1–10), indicating that He did not consider wine consumption a sin. He even told His followers to drink wine as part of an annual remembrance ceremony for Him. We also learn from the Bible that a little wine is good, both socially and physiologically, and is even prescribed for those with "heavy hearts" (Proverbs 31:6, King James Version). Wine is described as a blessing, a gift from God to "gladden the heart of man" (Psalm 104:15, English Standard Version). It was an expected, healthy part of a normal diet of that time and region, along with grain, bread, fruit, honey, meat, milk and olive oil. The Hebrew Scriptures also connect the consumption of "strong drink" with festive occasions (Deuteronomy 14:26).

When Jesus related the parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37), He included the fact that the helpful traveler dressed the wounds of an ambushed man with olive oil and wine as healing agents. Further, the apostle Paul told his protégé Timothy to drink a little wine for the sake of his stomach and his frequent infirmities (1 Timothy 5:23).

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