Questions / Living the faith

Is drinking alcohol a sin?

Church teaching

Answered on video by Ascension Presents

Video: Catholics, Alcohol, and Drinking, Ascension Presents, published Jun 6, 2018. Checked 10 October 2026. Loads from YouTube (privacy-enhanced mode) only when you press play. Watch on YouTube

In short: No. Getting drunk is. Temperance means no excess. CCC 2290

The answer, in writing

Church teaching

Temperance helps us avoid every kind of excess, including the abuse of alcohol. CCC 2290

Those who endanger others’ safety by drunkenness incur grave guilt. CCC 2290

Our words

Jesus made wine at a wedding. Enjoy it. Just don’t let it run you, and never drive after drinking.

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Sources on this page

How we know · 1 Catechism paragraph
  1. Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 2290 (official text on vatican.va).

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