A few questions about drinking

[Newman10]

Hello, I am a college student so sometimes I find myself in situations where alcohol is present. I avoid these situations more than most other kids, but it still raises some questions for me. Any help is greatly appreciated!

How much can a minor drink without it being a sin (if any at all)?

Is drinking a sin if it doesn’t lead to drunkenness (for example, one or two beers)?

When I am at home, my parents are OK with me having a glass of wine with dinner. Is this tolerable if I am on my own?

If I know my limit and stop there, am I OK?

What if I do it for the social aspect? Like can I have a couple drinks to “loosen me up”?

Is getting drunk a mortal sin (essentially, does it constitute grave matter)?

Here is one particular scenario I am having trouble with. I have a good friend and he says he will drink sometimes because he sees nothing wrong with it. He knows his limit and never reaches the stage of drunkenness. However, the people that he is with don’t necessarily always know their own limits. While this friend of mine may be able to tell someone to stop, is he at all responsible if this other person goes to a party, thinks they know their limit (but they don’t), has no one to stop them, and eventually gets drunk? Somehow I feel like he may be inadvertently “convincing” the other person they know their limit when in reality they don’t, and therefore would be somewhat responsible for the other person getting drunk. Is this part of being a good witness?

Also, somewhat related since it has to do with obeying civil law, in Romans 13:1-2 it says “Let every soul be subject to higher powers: for there is no power but from God: and those that are, are ordained of God. Therefore he that resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God. And they that resist, purchase to themselves damnation.” Does this mean all government is put in place by God and therefore must be obeyed as such? What about the rules of people such as Hitler or Stalin?

 

[Deconi]

There’s a few ‘drunks’ in the Bible!

The First Miracle of Our Lord was changing water to wine!

It’s not the drinking that’s the problem, but the way we drink and the consequences of it.

There are multitudes of ‘happy drinkers’ who get drunk, be merry, go home and sleep it off! Unfortunately, they are overshadowed by the ADVERSE drinkers who care not for the consequences, or deliberately seek drunkeness as an EXCUSE for the consequences!

As for the world leaders, it is true that ALL authority stem from God. But all men have the freedom to choose Good, or Evil, regardless their station; leader or subject. Since God is Goodness, it is easy to see when one falls away from that path.

 

[puzzleannie]

]How much can a minor drink without it being a sin (if any at all)?

a minor cannot drink at all, except inside his family home, within reason, served by his parents, because he is breaking the law, itself a sin, and leading the person who provided the drink illegally to him into sin, which is itself another sin

Is drinking a sin if it doesn’t lead to drunkenness (for example, one or two beers)?

no drinking per se is not a sin. breaking the law is a sin.

When I am at home, my parents are OK with me having a glass of wine with dinner. Is this tolerable if I am on my own?

yes as stated, if it is legal, it is okay. no you cannot drink on your own.

If I know my limit and stop there, am I OK?

that is the point and the reason for the law, teenagers don’t know their own limit. either do many adults, which is why the law sets a limit

What if I do it for the social aspect? Like can I have a couple drinks to “loosen me up”?

that is the first stage of an alcohol habit, needing a few drinks to loosen up

Is getting drunk a mortal sin (essentially, does it constitute grave matter)?

yes because it is voluntarily giving up one’s freedom of will and action

if you are in a social situation where others are drinking for the sole purpose of drinking to get drunk you need to find new friends and new social situations. if you are providing or allowing them to drink to excess, or providing drink to minors you are sinning and possibly breaking the law. Friends don’t let friends self-destruct. The situation you describe, alcohol used to release normal inhibitions on bad behavior, is precisely why there is a possibility of sin involving alcohol, and why people get started on a destructive mode of drinking, self-medicating with alcohol, and eventual addiction

 

[Newman10]

Thank you, Puzzleannie. That seems like a very “traditional” answer.

Does anyone feel any different?

I want to encourage this friend of mine to stop drinking altogether, especially when he is around friends who may be easily influenced. Any tips for talking to him?

 

[skeyes]

Breaking the law is always a sin, because authority is granted by God. Don’t try to split hairs here. Drinking is wrong for any minor unless the parents are serving and supervising. I would advise to be really sure you know the road you are going down if you decide to consume alcohol. There are very few people who know their limit and know their limit always. Be careful and really pray about needing alcohol in your life.
In His service,
Stan

 

[happymommy]

Breaking the law is always a sin, because authority is granted by God. Don’t try to split hairs here. Drinking is wrong for any minor unless the parents are serving and supervising. I would advise to be really sure you know the road you are going down if you decide to consume alcohol. There are very few people who know their limit and know their limit always. Be careful and really pray about needing alcohol in your life.
In His service,
Stan

I think you can get into some pretty big trouble for serving to a minor even if it is your child. I’m not sure were people heard that parents can supervise it. It’s breaking the law no matter who is giving it to them.

 

[skeyes]

I was speaking of one glass of wine with a meal. That is part of a parent’s job of teaching to respect alcohol and the consequences it has inherently. I do not condone parents allowing their children to consume alcohol to the point of losong control. It is however important for me to show my child that one glass of wine is enough for anyone. I do not drink alcohol in any form myself.
In His service,
Stan

 

[Newman10]

I personally have no desire to drink (I went through a short time at the beginning of the school year where I was really struggling, but after reflecting and praying about it God convinced me that I don’t need alcohol).

It is mainly my friend I am concerned about. I want to tell him that drinking small amounts of alcohol underage with other underage people, is in fact a sin. He has told me he “knows his limit” and “sees nothing wrong with having a couple of drinks.” He finds games such as beer pong, king’s cup, etc. fun strictly for the gaming sense and not for the alcohol.

 

[sodak]

Breaking the law is a sin, unless the law is unjust. Drinking age laws, however, are probably not unjust, although I have disagreements with them.

Having said that, I see nothing wrong with parents letting teenagers have a glass of wine with the meal. So I guess I’d sin there.

We receive Communion under both forms at our Church. Lots of kids do also. I doubt that anyone would try to say anything about that, under the eyes of the law, that should be illegal. While we Catholics believe that it’s the blood of our Lord, our secular society does not. I’m surprised that they’ve not said anything about it yet, now that I think about it…