Religion and alcohol

The world's religions have had differing relationships with alcohol. Many religions forbid alcoholic consumption or see it sinful or negative.

In Judaism and Christianity, consumption of alcohol isn't explicitly forbidden, but instead moderation is taught. Alcoholic beverages appear in the Bible, and while drunkenness is condemned (by the stories of Noah and Lot). Some Christians including Pentecostalists and Methodists today believe one ought to abstain from alcohol. Temperance and Prohibitionist movements have often had religious elements: the movement which led to prohibition in the United States was started by Methodists and Christian movements (see, for instance, Woman's Christian Temperance Union).

Islam considers consumption of khamr (Arabic for fermented drinks, wine) forbidden (haraam) under Islamic dietary laws.