Michael Brooks
Catholicism takes a nuanced view on alcohol and smoking, rooted in the belief that both can be acceptable in moderation. This perspective, known as moderationism, holds that alcohol and tobacco can be consumed without sin as long as they do not lead to intoxication, addiction, or harm to oneself or others. The Bible and Catholic teachings emphasize the virtue of temperance, cautioning against drunkenness and excessive smoking, which can endanger health and safety. While the Church does not forbid smoking, it discourages abuse and encourages Catholics to be mindful of potential health risks. Alcohol, on the other hand, is more deeply ingrained in Catholic tradition, with wine playing a role in the Eucharist and various saints associated with alcohol.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Alcohol | The Catholic Church condemns drunkenness, but not all use of alcohol or wine. The Bible and Catholic tradition show that alcohol can be part of a healthy, holy life, but its misuse poses real dangers. |
| Smoking | The Catholic Church does not explicitly forbid smoking, but it is generally discouraged as it is considered a sin to harm one's body. |
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What You'll Learn
Alcohol is acceptable in moderation
Alcohol is acceptable in Catholicism, but only in moderation. Drunkenness is considered a sin in the Catholic Church, with the Catechism condemning drunken excess and illegal drugs. The Bible and Catholic tradition show that alcohol can be part of a healthy, holy life, but its misuse poses real dangers.
The Catholic perspective honours alcohol as a gift, with Jesus' first miracle blessing wine for festivity, and it plays a vital role in the Eucharist. Scripture teaches that when used properly, alcohol is a blessing that "gladdens the heart" and promotes joy and health. The Church's tradition shows that when ordered rightly, alcohol honours God and enhances spiritual life.
The moderationist position is held by Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox, and within Protestantism, it is accepted by Anglicans, Lutherans and many Reformed churches. Moderationism argues that, according to the biblical and traditional witness, alcohol is a good gift of God that is rightly used in the Eucharist and for making the heart merry. While its dangers are real, it may be used wisely and moderately rather than being shunned or prohibited because of potential abuse.
Chesterton famously said, "Drink because you are happy, but never because you are miserable." Catholics are encouraged to always drink for the right reason, ordering their drinking to God in thanksgiving and praise. Catholic festivity includes celebratory drinking, along with eating, music, and fellowship, marking important occasions and feasts.
While wine is necessary for Mass, alcohol isn’t essential for life, and Catholics should abstain if it becomes a temptation or distraction.
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Drunkenness is a sin
Catholicism does not forbid the consumption of alcohol outright. The Bible and the Catholic Church do not condemn the use of alcohol or wine but rather drunkenness, which is considered a sin.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church condemns drunken excess and illegal drugs in #2290-2291:
> "The virtue of temperance disposes us to avoid every kind of excess: the abuse of food, alcohol, tobacco, or medicine. Those incur grave guilt who, by drunkenness or a love of speed, endanger their own and others’ safety on the road, at sea, or in the air."
Drunkenness is defined by Fr. Dominic Prummer in his "Handbook of Moral Theology" as:
> "Drunkenness is a deliberate excess in the use of intoxicating drink or drugs to the point of forcibly depriving oneself of the use of reason for the sake of gratifying an inordinate desire for such drink and not for the sake of promoting health."
The Bible also makes references to drunkenness as a sin. In his letter to the Ephesians, St. Paul writes:
> "And do not be drunk with wine, where is luxury" (Ephesians 5:18).
Saint John Chrysostom (4th-5th century) wrote:
> “Wine is the work of God, but drunkenness is the work of the devil.”
Catholics are encouraged to practice temperance, which means knowing when to stop and say "no" to avoid the sin of drunkenness. Drinking with friends is encouraged, but it is important to always drink in moderation and not to the point of losing one's mental faculties or ability to reason.
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Alcohol enhances spiritual life
Alcohol is a contentious issue in many religions, and Catholicism is no exception. While some Catholics choose to abstain from alcohol completely, it is not prohibited by the Catholic Church. In fact, the Bible and Catholic tradition show that alcohol can be part of a healthy, holy life.
The Bible does not prohibit drinking alcohol, and Jesus' first miracle at Cana blessed wine for festivity. Wine also plays a vital role in the Eucharist. Scripture teaches that when used properly, alcohol is a blessing that "gladdens the heart" and promotes joy and health. The Catholic Church continues to celebrate a number of early and medieval saints related to alcohol, such as St. Adrian, the patron saint of beer, and St. Martin, the patron saint of wine.
The key to the Catholic perspective on alcohol is the virtue of temperance, which guides Catholics to use alcohol in moderation, allowing them to enjoy it responsibly while maintaining their health, relationships, and freedom. Chesterton famously said, "Drink because you are happy, but never because you are miserable." Catholics are encouraged to always drink for the right reasons, ordering their drinking to God in thanksgiving and praise. Catholic festivity includes celebratory drinking, along with eating, music, and fellowship, marking important occasions and feasts.
However, it is important to note that drunkenness is considered a sin in Catholicism. The Catechism of the Catholic Church condemns drunken excess and illegal drugs, stating that the virtue of temperance disposes us to avoid every kind of excess, including the abuse of alcohol. Catholics are advised to use the legal limit as a benchmark for drunkenness and to slow down or stop drinking when they start to feel the effects of alcohol. While the dangers of alcohol abuse are acknowledged, the Catholic approach to drinking promotes its proper use and integration into social and spiritual life.
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Alcohol abuse poses dangers
The virtue of temperance guides Catholics to use alcohol in moderation, allowing them to enjoy it responsibly while maintaining their health, relationships, and freedom. Catholics believe that alcohol is acceptable in moderation, and drunkenness is considered a sin. The Catechism of the Catholic Church condemns drunken excess and illegal drugs, stating that those who endanger themselves and others through drunkenness or a love of speed incur grave guilt.
Serious Catholics agree that drunkenness is a mortal sin, and some define it as setting in when one blacks out or can no longer drive safely. However, this definition has been criticised as an excuse to justify one's drunkenness while pretending to uphold the law. A recommended benchmark for drunkenness is the legal limit, as a serious Catholic should never need a designated driver.
The Catholic view on alcohol draws upon the tradition of festivity, integrating alcohol within rightly ordered relationships and the Church's mission of evangelization. Alcohol is honoured as a gift, and Jesus' first miracle at Cana blessed wine for festivity, playing a vital role in the Eucharist. When used properly, alcohol is believed to honour God, enhance spiritual life, and promote joy and health.
Within the Catholic Church, the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association is a teetotal temperance organisation that requires its members to abstain completely from alcoholic drinks as a devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
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The Pioneer Total Abstinence Association requires teetotalism
The Catholic Church does not prohibit drinking alcohol, but it condemns drunkenness and the abuse of alcohol. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, in paragraphs 2290-2291, condemns drunken excess and illegal drugs, stating that the virtue of temperance disposes one to avoid every kind of excess, including the abuse of alcohol.
The Pioneer Total Abstinence Association of the Sacred Heart (PTAA), on the other hand, is an international organisation for Catholic teetotalers based in Ireland. Its members, commonly called Pioneers, are required to abstain completely from alcoholic drinks. The PTAA was founded in 1898 by James Cullen, a priest, in response to widespread alcoholism among Irish Catholics. The Pioneers wear a lapel pin called a Pioneer pin with an image of the Sacred Heart to advertise their commitment to teetotalism and to alert others not to offer them alcohol.
The PTAA does not merely advocate abstinence from alcohol but also creates opportunities for social activities without the presence of alcohol. They organise various competitions, such as table quizzes, talent shows, and sports, at different levels. They also hold annual seminars for young Pioneers (aged 13-18) and older Pioneers (aged 18+).
The aim of the PTAA is to promote sobriety and temperance through faith and prayer, self-denial leading to inner freedom, setting a beneficial example for others, and presenting alternatives to the drinking scene, especially for young people. The Pioneers are convinced that the love of God, as revealed in Jesus, is central to their lives, and they strive to build a society where people can live up to their full potential.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Catholicism allows alcohol, but only in moderation. Drunkenness is considered a sin.
Yes, Catholicism allows smoking, but only in moderation. Excessive smoking that gravely harms one's health is forbidden.
Yes, Catholicism allows vaping, but only in moderation. Addiction to vaping can be considered a sin.
