There are many different views about alcohol in Hinduism. Some people say in the Vedic times, gods used to drink Soma drink which was an intoxicating drink. Hence, there is no problem with drinking alcohol. While some scriptures say, consumption of alcohol is one of the biggest sins. Therefore, it is forbidden in Hinduism. Some scriptures say only Brahmins can’t drink alcohol, but the people from the other three Varnas can do so.
When it comes to religion, we should look at what the scriptures say and not what the individuals say. Therefore, let us see what Hindu scriptures say about alcohol consumption.
Hindu Scriptures that Support Alcohol Consumption:
1. “The ten intoxicating drinks are unclean for a brahmana, but a Kshatriya and a Vaishya and Sudra commit no wrong in drinking them” – (Vishnu Smrti 22:84).
2. “Used judiciously, wine relieves a person of worries; otherwise, it leads one to hell (through excessive use). It gives the ability to work, helps the natural functions, and blesses with beauty. Judicious use of wine is like that of the nectar of immortality” – (Garuda Purana 1:155:34-35).
3. Tantric Hinduism allows consuming alcohol as Prasadam. It means first it should be offered to gods as Naivedyam.
4. In the Brahmanda Purana, there is a dialogue between Indra and Sage Brihasapati about liquor.
Indra said:
63. “What is the nature of Āsava? (Liquor). What is its defect? What is its merit? What type of cooked food is defective? Mention this in detail to me.”
Bṛhaspati said:
64. The different types of intoxicating beverages are as follows: Paiṣṭika (made from flour or rice), Tālaja (from the date palm) Kaira (coconut palm-juice), Mādhūka (made from honey or Madhūka flowers), Guḍasambhava (prepared from molasses). Regarding sinful nature, the later ones mentioned above are half as dreadful as the earlier ones.
65. Āsava can be used as a beverage by the three castes beginning with the Kṣatriyas. Excepting a Brāhmaṇa lady, all women can drink liquors beginning with the third one, i.e., Kaira (coconut palm juice, and prepared from honey and molasses).
66-67. A widow, a virgin, and a woman in her monthly period shall avoid drinking liquor. If a woman drinks liquor out of covetousness and not in the company of her husband, she is called Unmādinī (a madwoman). One should avoid her like a Cāṇḍāla woman.
68. The ratio of drinking liquors in the case of four castes beginning with the Brāhmaṇas shall be ten to eight or six to four. In the case of women, it shall be half of the above. If they drink in the company of their husbands, it shall be one-fourth of the above.
69-71. After drinking liquor out of delusion, a Brāhmaṇa should perform Kṛcchracāndrāyaṇa expiation or he shall repeat Gāyatrī Mantra or Jātavedasa Mantra ten thousand times. If a man repeats Ambikāhṛdaya Mantra, he shall become pure. A Kṣatriya among the three castes shall be purified by repeating those Mantras half the number of times. In case of women, the number of repetitions shall be one-fourth, or they can get the same done through Brāhmaṇas. One should repeat the Mantras a thousand times underwater and become purified thereby.
72. Lakṣmī, Sarasvatī, Gaurī, Caṇḍikā, Tripurā, Ambikā, Vaiṣṇavī, Bhairavī, Kālī and Māhendrī are the Mothers.
73. There are other Śakti goddesses. In worshipping them, the liquor prepared from honey is approved of. A Brāhmaṇa who has mastered the Vedāṅgas shall perform worship without wine.
74. Those who are unattached to worldly objects attain the greatest goal through their power (i.e., the power of Mothers). They shall eat only what is dedicated and offered to them first. Without thinking about other deities, they must be meditated upon. They must identify themselves with Mothers.
75. This remembrance of the fact of the supreme power (parā-Śakti) is prescribed as the expiation for all sins committed either knowingly or unknowingly.
76. The base fellow who drinks liquor without worshipping Parā Śakti shall stay in hell called Raurava for a period calculated at the rate of a year for every drop so-consumed.
77. He who drinks liquor with a desire for enjoying pleasures is the vilest of men. Excepting a fall from precipitous rock or immolation into the fire, there are no other means of atonement for him.
78-79. A Brāhmaṇa should not drink liquor out of delusion or for the sake of friendship or because of passionate addiction.
A Brāhmaṇa shall be purified of sinful defects due to the blessings of great men, by repentance of one’s own action, by worshipping Parāśakti, by the observance of Yamas and Niyamas, by means of Kṛcchracāṇḍrāyaṇa expiatory rites calculated on the basis of the number of days (on which the sin is committed). If the sin is committed consciously the expiation shall be twice as much.
(Brahmanda Purana, Lalita Mahatmya, 7.63-79)
5. “There is no sin in the eating of meat, nor in wine, nor in sexual intercourse. Such is the natural way of living beings, but abstention is conducive to great rewards” – (Manusmriti 5.56).
Hindu Scriptures that Forbid Alcohol Consumption:
1. “Killing a Brahmana, drinking (the spirituous liquor called) Sura, stealing (the gold of a Brahmana), adultery with a Guru’s wife, and associating with such (offenders), they declare (to be) mortal sins (mahapataka)” – Manusmriti Chapter 11 verse 55.
2. “Gamblers, dancers, cruel men, men belonging to heretical sects, men addicted to evil deeds, wine dealers – these the King shall instantly banish from his town” – (Manusmriti 9.225).
3. “A person who steals gold, or drinks liquor, or goes to bed with his teacher’s wife, or kills a brāhmin—these four are lost. Also lost is the fifth—one who keeps company with such people” – (Chandogya Upanishad 5.10.9).
4. Usana Smriti, Chapter 8, Verse 1 also says the same thing.
There are many other scriptures like Brahmanas and Sutras that condemn the consumption of liquor as well as allow on some occasions.
Atonement or Purification for Drinking Alcohol in Hinduism:
If a Brahmana drinks liquor unknowingly, he may undergo one of the following atonements: performing Vratas like Kriccha or Chaandraayana, chanting the Gayathri mantra ten thousand times, chanting the Atidurga Mahamantra ten thousand times, or chanting Ambika Hridaya. This will purify the person of his sin. A Kshatriya, Vysya, and Shoodra should chant these mantras five-thousand, two-thousand five hundred and one thousand and two fifty times respectively, to purify themselves. The women and Shudras may get the Japa performed by Brahmins on their behalf. Chanting these mantras a thousand times in water bestows purification from all sins. If the consumption of wine is done knowingly, the atonement prescribed is twice what was previously described.
Law of Karma and Consumption of Alcohol:
Drinking intoxicating drinks give us temporary pleasure. Our brain feels relaxed. It reduces fear and shyness in some people. It also boosts mood, but the pleasure obtained in this way is not natural and is unethical.
Consumption of alcohol in moderate-to-large quantity impairs our reasoning and memory. It can also produce depression, disorientation, and memory loss.
As it impairs our ability to reasoning, the consumers make wrong decisions and do bad karma under its influence which might not only ruin this but also upcoming births.
E.g., many criminals drink alcoholic drinks before committing crimes. Thousands of people die in accidents while driving under influence. Many people beat their wives after getting drunk.
In short, consumption of alcohol is both directly and indirectly responsible for bad karma.
Soma and Sura:
Many people claim that gods drink Soma, which is an intoxicating drink. Hence, Hindus can also drink alcoholic drinks. Actually, Soma is a stimulant ritualistic drink and is highly praised in the Hindu scriptures. While Sura is an intoxicating drink and is highly condemned (Rigveda VII.86.6), it is allowed to drink during a srauta ritual (a ritual performed after Rajasuya Yajna) as an oblation material (Shatpath Brahmana XII.7.2, 12, 21).
Conclusion:
If you read the above quotes from the Hindu scriptures, you would find that there are many contradictory statements in them. E.g., at one point Brahmanda Purana says that the people from three castes (other than Brahmin) can drink alcohol as a beverage, but afterward, it says that one who drinks it for pleasure is the vilest man.
Also, some scriptures condemn alcohol consumption, while some allow it in some situations. In such a situation, we should consider the authoritativeness of the scriptures. Among all the texts mentioned above, the Rigveda and the Chandogya Upanishad are the most authoritative Hindu scriptures as they are a part of Shruti literature while the Smritis and Puranas are a part of Smriti literature.
The Chandogya Upanishad clearly states that drinking alcohol is one of the five biggest sins. Therefore, we can say that consumption of alcohol is prohibited in Hinduism.