In short: the fifth Buddhist precept is to refrain from alcohol and intoxicants that cause heedlessness. The Buddha gave practical reasons: "There are these six drawbacks of habitually consuming intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor. Immediate loss of wealth, promotion of quarrels, susceptibility to illness, disrepute, indecent exposure; and weakened wisdom is the sixth thing." (DN 31). The precepts are trainings you choose, not commandments.
The six drawbacks of drinking
"There are these six drawbacks of habitually consuming intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor. Immediate loss of wealth, promotion of quarrels, susceptibility to illness, disrepute, indecent exposure; and weakened wisdom is the sixth thing."
DN 31 · Full text: Sigālovāda Sutta.
| Drawback | Today it looks like |
|---|---|
| Loss of wealth | Money spent, money lost through bad decisions |
| Quarrels | Arguments you'd never start sober |
| Illness | Hangovers, poor sleep, long-term health |
| Disrepute | Things people remember about that night |
| Indecent exposure | Losing your sense of what's appropriate |
| Weakened wisdom | A clouded mind, which is why the precept matters for meditation |
Read the full guide
The fifth precept
The five precepts are about not harming: not killing, stealing, sexual misconduct or lying, and not clouding the mind that keeps the other four. The Buddha called keeping the precepts a gift of safety to all beings. (The five precepts · the precepts as gifts)
A gentle way to start
- Notice: next time you reach for a drink, pause for one breath and ask, "What am I looking for right now: rest, ease, connection?"
- Try a precept day: keep the fifth precept fully on Uposatha days, or for one week.
- Replace, don't just remove: an evening practice can give the wind-down a drink was giving. (Evening rituals)
If drinking feels hard to control, please talk to a doctor or a support service. That is also wise and compassionate.
Try it
Swap one evening drink for a 3-minute practice: open Practice and choose Evening.
Questions people ask
Can Buddhists drink alcohol?
The fifth of the five precepts is to refrain from alcohol and intoxicants that cause heedlessness. The precepts are trainings taken on voluntarily, not commandments; many lay Buddhists keep it fully, others work toward it.
What did the Buddha say about drinking?
In DN 31 he lists six drawbacks: 'Immediate loss of wealth, promotion of quarrels, susceptibility to illness, disrepute, indecent exposure; and weakened wisdom is the sixth thing.'