I would like to know what the Bible says about drinking alcoholic beverages. 

PREAMBLE:

The condition of being intoxicated because of excessive drinking of alcoholic beverages. A drunkard is a person who habitually overindulges in strong drink to the point of drunkenness. To get to the stage of being termed a drunkard does not start one day. It is possible that one may have decide be excessively drunken. However, it is crystal clear that a little leaven, leavens the whole lump.

DISCUSSION:  

Gen. 9:20-27 Noah's account on drinking alcoholic beverages

Gen. 19: 30-38 Lot's account on drinking. 

The earliest records of drinking alcoholic beverages were that of Noah and Lot. Noah after the deliverance from the flood became an husbandman. He planted vineyard and got himself drunk and he was naked. One of his children saw him naked and spoke about it to others and to the effect Noah cursed Canaan his son. But who caused it? Noah did. The consequence of shame was his and remaining under curse became the inheritance of his children. 

Lot's daughters after escaping from Sodom made their father drunk and he was made to lie with the two of them. Drinking of alcoholic beverages caused these two bad incidences.

It should be observed from the above two personalities that they engaged in drinking after the Lord has granted them victory or released favor unto them. That is not the order of God. Any favor granted man should result to praising our God and not destroying the temple where God is supposed to be living.

In Africa and other parts of the globe, people take to drunkenness when things have been proved good to them. Examples of occasion that calls for the use of beverages are, marriage, christening, house warming ceremonies etc. People say that they are celebrating. Noah did but the consequence was bad not only for him but for his children that were involved in his action. Whether good or bad, blessing is far better than a curse.

Throughout the scripture there are warnings against drunkenness. Let us note a few of them for our admonition:

(Hosea 4:10 KJV)  For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.

(Hosea 4:11 KJV)  Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.

(Hosea 4:12 KJV)  My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God.

I have discovered in my ministerial experience that those who engage in drinking alcoholic beverages are also prone to adultery. From statistics, about 50% of those who drink alcoholic beverages also smoke. Many of those who are still there started by taking little which eventually tantalized them to take much they cannot control now.

Why drinking alcoholic beverages.

To receive boldness to misbehave.
To join their friends who do not walk in the counsel of God. Some people engage in it in order to conform to social norms of the society in which they belong. This is absolutely unchristian and unacceptable to the Almighty God.

(Prov 23:21 KJV)  For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

Can you see that? I have ministered to a few people in the past who don't have anything to show for their labor. This is because they set aside a particular amount of money for drinks at the end of the month even before the family budget. They are retched, without future and purpose. That is why we rebuke the demon behind alcoholic beverages. Many times, these demons have spoken out to our hearings that they are out to destroy, make poor the person they inhabit. Some of the people engaged in drunkenness die before their time.

One woman tells us, “I remember before I gave my life to Christ. I used to drink alcoholic beverages. I started from little. From this little I graduated to drinking strong wine. One day, I got so drunk to the extent that I did not know where I was. I was washing my dress in a terrible gutter very close to our family house. I was very young them. My mother, without too much knowledge of God, did not like it. She was sobbing like a baby on me. I was not ashamed until when I was told of my actions of the previous day. One's focus will tend towards joining drinking mates. I was poor academically then. There was not much to show for my effort. There is a demon behind drinking. Thank God I got my deliverance, Jesus came into my heart and I renounced the spirit behind drinking, fornication, lying, deceit, inordinate affection and all kind of social vices I had then.”

(1 Cor 6:9 KJV)  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

(1 Cor 6:10 KJV)  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

The Bible is telling us and asking us, do you know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterer nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the king of God.

The above is the list of those who will not enter into the Kingdom of our dear God. Yes, God has the list of those who will get to his Kingdom just like you will not like just "anybody" to enter your bedroom. If your bedroom is sacred, heaven is more sacred than your bedroom.

(Dan 1:8 KJV)  But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. 

Israelites considered food from Nebuchadnezzar's table to be contaminated because the first portion of it was offered to idols. Likewise, a portion of the wine was poured out on a pagan altar. Ceremonially unclean animals were used and were neither slaughtered nor prepared according to the regulations of the law. He demonstrated the courage of his convictions. God enabled the official to show favor to Daniel. 

You do can decide today to refrain from what your mates are doing. The grace that Daniel had in his days is not different from the one you also have now. To refrain from alcoholic beverages calls for self-determination, which Daniel exhibited and prospered. The power of Jesus can help your determination if you will allow Jesus into your heart. Confess your sins to him today and be you will be saved. He will give the power to become a child of God. Becoming a child of God will deliver you from every vices including drunkenness. 

(2 Sam 11:13 KJV)  And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house. 

At David's invitation, he ate and drank with him and David made him drunk. But in the evening Uriah went out to sleep on his mat among his mater's servants; he did not go home. 

Based on personal determination David would have through drunkenness deceived Uriah unto lying with his wife after she was pregnant. That is what drunkenness can do. 

(Job 12:25 KJV)  They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man. 

This is talking about a drunken man that is also a staggering man. He is not normal. He misbehaves. He loses his senses because he has so much indulged in alcoholic beverages. 

(Prov 31:6 KJV)  Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. 

Why must you perish?  You should refrain from beer and alcohols and be good instruments in the hands of our God. Let no demon or alcohol destroy your body. It is medically unfit for you to continue to indulge in drinking alcohols. 

CONCLUSION: 

It is important to say that all these talked about drunkenness. But we need to remember that not many people can discern when they will reach the point of drunkenness. And every drunken man must have started from little drinking. Even juices that have been fermented should be abstained from! 

(Phil 4:8 KJV)  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 

If anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. 

JESUS IS LORD! 

(Mark 7:15 KJV)  There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.

(Mark 7:16 KJV)  If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. 

(Luke 1:15 KJV)  For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. 

(Amos 2:12 KJV)  But ye gave the Nazarites wine to drink; and commanded the prophets, saying, Prophesy not. 

(Luke 5:39 KJV)  No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better. 

(Luke 7:33 KJV)  For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.

(Luke 7:34 KJV)  The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!

(John 2:3 KJV)  And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.

(John 2:4 KJV)  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. 

(Prov 31:4 KJV)  It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:

(Prov 31:5 KJV)  Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

(Prov 31:6 KJV)  Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

(Prov 31:7 KJV)  Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. 

(Lev 10:9 KJV)  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: 

(Isa 28:7 KJV)  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. 

(Psa 75:8 KJV)  For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them. 

(Prov 4:17 KJV)  For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

(Prov 4:18 KJV)  But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

(Prov 4:19 KJV)  The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

(Prov 4:20 KJV)  My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.

(Prov 4:21 KJV)  Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.

(Prov 4:22 KJV)  For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. 

(Num 15:4 KJV)  Then shall he that offereth his offering unto the LORD bring a meat offering of a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of an hin of oil.

(Num 15:5 KJV)  And the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink offering shalt thou prepare with the burnt offering or sacrifice, for one lamb. 

(Job 1:18 KJV)  While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:

(Job 1:19 KJV)  And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 

(Psa 60:1 KJV)  To the chief Musician upon Shushaneduth, Michtam of David, to teach; when he strove with Aramnaharaim and with Aramzobah, when Joab returned, and smote of Edom in the valley of salt twelve thousand. O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered us, thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us again.

(Psa 60:2 KJV)  Thou hast made the earth to tremble; thou hast broken it: heal the breaches thereof; for it shaketh.

(Psa 60:3 KJV)  Thou hast showed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment. 

(Psa 78:65 KJV)  Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine. 

(Prov 23:29 KJV)  Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?

(Prov 23:30 KJV)  They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.

(Prov 23:31 KJV)  Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.

(Prov 23:32 KJV)  At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.

(Prov 23:33 KJV)  Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. 

(Isa 5:22 KJV)  Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: 

(Hab 2:15 KJV)  Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!

(Hab 2:16 KJV)  Thou art filled with shame for glory: drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered: the cup of the LORD'S right hand shall be turned unto thee, and shameful spewing shall be on thy glory. 

(Isa 5:11 KJV)  Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them! 

(Isa 22:13 KJV)  And behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for to morrow we shall die. 

(Zep 1:13 KJV)  Therefore their goods shall become a booty, and their houses a desolation: they shall also build houses, but not inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, but not drink the wine thereof.

(Isa 28:1 KJV)  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!

(Isa 28:2 KJV)  Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand.

(Isa 28:3 KJV)  The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet:

(Isa 28:4 KJV)  And the glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, and as the hasty fruit before the summer; which when he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up. 

(Mat 24:32 KJV)  Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: 

(Isa 65:11 KJV)  But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number.

(Jer 51:7 KJV)  Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD'S hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.

(Micah 2:11 KJV)  If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.