My post on the “demon’s drink” of alcohol yesterday seems to have aroused some strong opinions on both sides. Allow me to weigh in more on the issue. Bhikkhu Bodhi* had some strong feelings about the subject in this article:
For his lay followers the Buddha has prescribed five precepts as the minimal moral observance: abstinence from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, false speech, and the use of intoxicants. He did not lay down these precepts arbitrarily or out of compliance with ancient customs, but because he understood, with his omniscient knowledge, which lines of conduct lead to our welfare and happiness and which lead to harm and suffering. The fifth precept, it should be stressed, is not a pledge merely to abstain from intoxication or from excessive consumption of liquor. It calls for nothing short of total abstinence. By this rule the Buddha shows that he has understood well the subtle, pernicious nature of addiction. Alcoholism rarely claims its victims in a sudden swoop. Usually it sets in gradually, beginning perhaps with the social icebreaker, the drink among friends, or the cocktail after a hard day’s work. But it does not stop there: slowly it sinks its talons into its victims’ hearts until they are reduced to its helpless prey.
And:
It may well be that a mature, reasonably well-adjusted person can enjoy a few drinks with friends without turning into a drunkard or a murderous fiend. But there is another factor to consider: namely, that this life is not the only life we lead. Our stream of consciousness does not terminate with death but continues on in other forms, and the form it takes is determined by our habits, propensities, and actions in this present life. The possibilities of rebirth are boundless, yet the road to the lower realms is wide and smooth, the road upward steep and narrow.
Finally:
But it is not for our own sakes alone, nor even for the wider benefit of our family and friends, that we should heed the Buddha’s injunction to abstain from intoxicants. To do so is also part of our personal responsibility for preserving the Buddha’s Sasana. The Teaching can survive only as long as its followers uphold it, and in the present day one of the most insidious corruptions eating away at the entrails of Buddhism is the extensive spread of the drinking habit among those same followers.
Also, regarding the freedom from guilt that comes with following the five precepts, the Buddha spoke of this as well in the Pali Canon (AN 10.1):
[Ananda:] “What, O Venerable One, is the reward and blessing of wholesome morality?”
[The Buddha:] “Freedom from remorse, Ananda.”
“And of freedom from remorse?”
“Joy, Ananda”
“And of joy?”
“Rapture, Ananda”
“And of rapture?”
“Tranquillity, Ananda.”
“And of tranquillity?”
“Happiness, Ananda.”
“And of happiness?”
“Concentration, Ananda.”
“And of concentration?”
“Vision and knowledge according to reality.”
“And of the vision and knowledge according to reality?”
“Turning away and detachment, Ananda.”
“And of turning away and detachment?”
“The vision and knowledge with regard to Deliverance, Ananda.”
People may not want to hear the message, or justify this through such talk of “freedom from views” and so on, but the Buddha taught what the Buddha taught. We don’t have to follow it if we choose not to; Buddhism is not a compulsory religion. But we should be careful not to substitute this teaching with our own interpretation, because we just don’t agree with what the Buddha taught. The Buddha taught this leads to what he called the Counterfeit Dharma (SN 16.13 of the Pali Canon). It’s one thing if you can’t live up to the precepts, since they are a life-long challenge (I should know) but we shouldn’t re-interpret them to suit our viewpoints. That does Buddhism a disservice.
In any case, the Buddha taught his path the way he did because it has clear, practical benefits for ourselves and others. If you don’t believe me, just try it out and you’ll see what I mean. 
I don’t drink, I don’t miss it. I rarely go to the pub here in Ireland (and never drink when there), and I come home early to my loved ones. I might miss out on some good drinkin’ and good fun, but what I sacrifice in amusement is well-repaid in freedom from guilt, and a wholesome home life.
That’s all the proof I need that life is better without alcohol.
Namuamidabu
* – A hero of mine.
Hello, this blog is about my life as a father, Buddhist and Japanophile / Koreaphile. Any useful information I can pass along will hopefully make the 
Beautiful. Beautiful.
Gerald, for far far too many families in this world, a husband or father coming home sober is a dream come true, a prayer answered. By not drinking, the amount of good you do the world (not least by your excellent example to your child, to your friends, to the people in your street) is inestimable. Thank you Gerald.
Wishing you peace and – again! – a Merry (sober) Christmas!
Marcus
A toxicologist will tell you that alcohol affects the highest functions of the body first, namely,one’s judgment. This occurs before any noticeable physical effects. So even after a single drink the ability to make intelligent choices (such as, Should I have another drink or Should I drive home) is impaired. Morality is all about making the right choices, so why fool around with something that will increase the chances of making an inappropriate choice. We all have the freedom to choose, but I think there is a tendency to rationalize the dangers of intoxicants, especially alcohol.
Marcus: Well said, well said. A lot of families would function much better without it.
Dai Chi: Welcome to the L8B! (didn’t get a chance to get to say it on your last post). Many good points said in your comment. Thanks!
I always tell people I don’t drink because it’s against my religion. But it’s also hard for me to explain to people that although I don’t drink, I don’t think that everyone who drinks is a sinner. And it’s hard to explain to some that although I believe the fifth precept is definitively against drinking, I don’t think that means that they’re rotten Buddhists for drinking. Like you Gerald, I’m just wary of people tweaking the precepts to suit their lifestyle. I often joke that the code is more what you’d call “guidelines” than actual rules — it’s better to break the precepts and admit to it than to try to argue that they don’t mean what they say they mean.
Exactly, exactly! I have no problem at all with people who can’t follow the fifth precept, as long as they’re sincere about it. Speaking as one who struggles with other precepts frequently. Better to take self-responsibility than to foist blame on tradition and such.
A sincere question – is the fifth precept only about alchohol or are substances not as harmful as alcohol like caffeine included? I had a very strong coffee once that made me feel like I had drunk a glass of red wine.
Good question. I’ve wondered this one too since I am a Java Junkie myself, despite repeated efforts to quit. My first assumption is no since people do not abuse wives and children while high on caffiene, nor dramatically increase the risk of a car accident while driving, but on the other hand, if taken too far (and speaking from experience) it’s a drain on money and probably not the best for your health.
I know Ajahn Brahm once mentioned an anecdote of a fellow monk in his order who like coffee alot, so I take it that monks can and do drink coffee sometimes.
As for other substances, I guess the big issue is if they lead to unwholesome behavior. Alcohol has well known reputation for it, as does marijuana (I knew friends who ruined their futures over it), but what about cough medicine? I think I vaguely recall that for obvious medicinal use it would be fine, but when abused it would not be.
Great question in any case, and hopefully others can shed light on this. (any bhikkhus in the house?)
How about wine in cooking?
Since the alcohol gets burned off and no one gets drunk, it should be fine. Again, no one beats their kids or has impaired motor skills after having a pasta sauce with some wine cooked in. As with cold medicine the key is how it is used. This goes back to the notion of Right Action in the Eightfold Path, and whether a specific action is conducive to wholesome or skillful behavior or not. Good judgement is usually more than enough, and if someone makes an honest mistake, there’s no fault in it because there was no intention.
Arunlikhati, I agree that the precepts should be seen as guidelines. But I also think that they should not be taken too lightly. I also agree that if I break them, it’s completely on me. As for coffee? Doug, have you ever seen Kicking and Screaming? It’s the movie where Will Ferrell is a soccer coach. I recommend you watch it for the negative effects of caffeine addiction. I’m just kidding, but it is a funny movie.
Have you ever drunk sake? In Japan they tend to fill your cup as soon as you finish it. If you don’t want to drink too much the trick is to pretend to sip at it and not let your cup become empty. A very wise priest taught me that trick!