Is One Drink a Sin?

Allen Webster

Is it a sin to drink a beer at a game, to have a glass of wine with dinner, or have a shot to take the edge off? Some Christians argue that there is nothing wrong with any of these. What does Scripture teach?

Framing the Questions

Some have appealed to such defenses as, “There is alcohol in Nyquil and vanilla,” suggesting that thus social consumption of one drink cannot be condemned. At first hearing, this may sound reasonable, but such comparisons do not clarify the issue—they confuse it. No one is arguing that all uses of alcohol in every form are sinful.

• Paul authorized limited medicinal use: “Use a little wine for your stomach’s sake” (1 Tim. 5:23). The intent is treatment (use), not pleasure or relaxation. Medicinal use is controlled (little), purposeful (stomach’s sake), and non-recreational.
• Vanilla desserts are non-intoxicating and are not consumed for intoxicating effects.

See article There Is Alcohol in Your Nyquil so Don’t Tell Me I Can’t Drink Beer

The first question then is: Is drinking one beer, one glass of wine, or a shot of whiskey sinful?

The second question is, “What is ‘drunk?’” Someone might say, “One drink does not make me drunk.” But how is drunkenness being framed? Is it feeling “buzzed?”; is it being characterized by noticeable signs—loud/slurred speech, staggering steps, slowed reaction time, or loss of focus/consciousness? These physical symptoms come after what Scripture calls drunkenness. In the Bible, drunkenness is “a state in which a person’s mind, judgment, self-control, and behavior are impaired by intoxicating drink, resulting in diminished moral awareness and often sinful conduct.” Intoxication begins before what the world calls “drunk.” Framing drunkenness according to worldly standards misses the point of sobriety.

Finding the Answers

Four Bible passages clearly answer both questions:

Be sober. It is best to define “drunk” by first defining “sober.” Christians are repeatedly commanded to be “sober” (1 Thess. 5:6, 8; 1 Pet. 1:13; 5:8). “Sober” (nepho) literally means to be free from the influence of intoxicants. Sobriety is not: “Avoid looking drunk.” Sobriety is being completely clear-minded. That standard is not, “Don’t lose control,” but “Do not come under the influence.” The question is not: “Can I have one drink and avoid physical effects?” The question is: “Did that one drink affect the mind God commands me to keep sober?” The moment alcohol begins to affect the mind it violates the command to be sober. A person may say, “I am not drunk,” when he is not sober.

Do not consider drinking. Solomon said, “Look not thou upon the wine when it is red … when it moves itself aright” (Proverbs 23:31). This is not: “Do not get drunk.” This is “do not pick up a drink and consider imbibing.” If a father says to his son, “Do not even look at drugs,” does he mean the boy can take a small quantity?

Do not start the process. Paul wrote, “Do not be drunk with wine” (Ephesians 5:18) because life filled with the Spirit (5:19) is the opposite of a life filled with spirits. Drunkenness stands at odds with clear minded sobriety. Did Paul mean to imply that it is permissible to drink as long as one does not get drunk? It sounds that way in English, but the Greek present tense verb refers to the process, not just the result. Wine is a mocker—the substance itself, not to abuse of it (Prov. 20:1). Mild intoxication is still intoxication. Thus, the question is: “Does one drink affect my mind, judgment, or self-control?”

Do not poison the body. A Christian’s body is the temple of his spirit and the Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19; 2 Corinthians 6:16) and should not be deliberately harmed. The World Health Organization said, “There is no amount of alcohol that does not impact your health” (2023). There is no safe level. Ethyl alcohol is toxic. Alcohol is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen, similar to asbestos, radiation, and tobacco. The WHO notes that alcohol causes at least seven types of cancer, including breast and bowel cancer, with risks increasing the more it is consumed. The evidence shows that any consumption, regardless of quantity, harms the brain, liver, and cardiovascular system. See Diseases Caused by Alcohol

Medical science is revising previously promoted benefits of moderate drinking. Historically, studies suggested moderate drinking might have heart benefits. However, newer, more comprehensive global studies indicate that these benefits do not outweigh the increased risks of cancer and cardiovascular disease, leading to updated global health advice. The Bible was right all along (Psalm 19:7; 33:4).

Do not go to social settings built around drinking. Galatians 5:20-21 and 1 Peter 4:3 are not limited to extreme behavior—they include the atmosphere of drinking and partying. Three of Paul’s works-of-the-flesh sins involve alcohol:

• “Excess of wine” translates one Greek word, oinophlugia, which means “drunkenness,” and refers to those who are addicted, heavy drinkers.
• “Revellings” translates komos and refers to wild partying drinkers, who often become noticeably drunk, but not always, and often engage in other wickedness associated with partying.
• “Banquetings” translates potos and simply means “a drinking” but without reference to amount. Potos clearly includes and condemns social drinking.[1]

Understanding the Process

Now to the question, “Is one drink enough to reach the biblical standard of drunkenness?”

How does one drink of alcohol affect the body and mind? Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) begins to rise with one drink. Science confirms what Scripture implies: impairment begins almost immediately. Even in small amounts, alcohol affects judgment, inhibitions, and self-control. Before a man appears drunk outwardly, he is already impaired inwardly. His conscience is dulled. His ability to discern right from wrong is weaker.

The prefrontal cortex (lobe) is impacted with a level as small as 0.01% BAC intoxication.[2]

• 01 to 0.05% BAC:You may feel relaxed, less alert, and have a slight loss of judgement.
• 06-.15% BAC:You may have slurred speech, reduced muscle coordination and impaired judgement, memory, or balance.
• 16 to 0.30% BAC:You will feel more serious signs of intoxication such as difficulty walking and speaking. You may feel drowsy, confused, and nauseated. You may experience gaps in memory (blackouts), vomiting, or loss of consciousness.
• Over 0.31% BAC:Levels are especially dangerous and may even be fatal. You may lose consciousness, have trouble breathing, or go into a coma.

Violating Scripture

Now to the question, “Is one U.S. standard drink enough to reach the biblical standard of drunkenness?”

Impairment can begin with as little as one swallow (see comments below). The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) wrote, “Even small amounts of alcohol (BACs of 0.02–0.03%) can impair judgment and the ability to multitask.”[3] Thus the prefrontal cortex is impacted with a BAC level of .02-.03 percent, which is typically reached after consuming about 0.6 ounces (14 grams) of pure alcohol (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). In the U.S., a standard drink contains about 0.6 ounces, which is:

• 12 oz of beer (5% Alcohol by Volume)
• 5 oz of wine (12% ABV)
• 1.5 oz of distilled liquor (40% ABV)

At 0.02–0.03 BAC:

• The brain’s prefrontal cortex[4] (responsible for impulse control, judgment and decision-making) is affected.

• Mood changes occur.
• Judgment begins to weaken.
• Attention and concentration decline. Divided attention becomes more difficult.
• Alertness is reduced.
• Inhibitions decrease—people become more willing to say or do what they normally would not. There is a loss of shyness and self-control. For most women, inhibitions noticeably drop at 3 ounces of wine.

These effects occur before any outward signs of drunkenness. God’s standard is not: “Stay upright.” It is: “Stay sober.” Thus, a person may say, “I am not drunk” (worldly definition) when already drunk (Bible definition).

Take this a step further. What happens with the first swallow? Most adults take in about 0.5 to 1.0 fluid ounces per swallow (small sip: ~0.5 oz; average swallow: ~0.6–0.8 oz; large gulp: ~1.0 oz or more). This means that with a standard drink (0.6 oz of pure alcohol), one reaches the ~.02 level in:

• • 1 swallow (a large sip of liquor)
  • 2–4 swallows (wine)
  • 4–8 swallows (beer)

Let that sink in. One swallow could bring on impairment and intoxication.[5]

Avoiding the Consequences

The principle is this: when one acts while impaired in judgment, he sins (he is not sober). The idea of “moderate drinking” assumes that one can identify the line between sobriety and drunkenness, but alcohol impairs the very judgment needed to determine that line. Instead of asking: “How much can I drink without being drunk?” a Christian asks, “Why begin a process that God warns against?” To deliberately behave foolishly is a sin (Eph. 5:15). Drinking is foolish (Prov. 20:1). Drinking is a sin.

Another question regarding consequences should be considered: What does drinking one drink say to others? Alcohol is not a neutral cultural symbol. It is widely associated with worldliness, excess (bad behavior), and addiction. A one-drink Christian can:

• Encourage weaker brethren to sin—including those he sees on Sundays.
• Confuse young people or new Christians—including one’s own children.
• Damage one’s influence with those he hopes to convert—including lifelong and current friends.

Remember that Jesus said, “Whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matthew 18:6). The issue is not only, “Am I sinning?” but also, “Who am I offending?” (Romans 14:21-23).

Conclusion: Is drinking one beer, one glass of wine, or a short of whiskey a sin? The answer is unequivocally yes.

[1] Willie Ramsey, tract

[2]  https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/blood-alcohol-level/.

[3] National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) published, “At BAC levels as low as 0.02%, there is a decline in visual functions and divided attention.”

[4]“At .02 BAC, there is a decline in visual functions… and a decline in the ability to perform two tasks at the same time” (NHTSA). The Effects of Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) “Even small amounts of alcohol (BACs of 0.02–0.03%) can impair judgment…” — National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), Alcohol’s Effects on the Body

[5] https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/blood-alcohol-level/ Drunkenness of course is impacted by whether one has a full stomach or not, is male or female, genetic issues, history of drinking, but the mind is impacted regardless. BAC calculations are based on body weight and sex. Elimination rates are variable: 0.015 BAC per hour in men, and 0.018 in women, generally.