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I think the pressure to drink can sometimes be very strong, depending on where and with who you hang out with, so the advice that's been given in this thread is very helpful! biggrin

Reviving an old thread to give my take on the issue:

I know a number of (Mahayana) Buddhists from Asia who drink and even become intoxicated.

Some interpret the fifth precept as including not only intoxicating substances, but anything that may cause us to lose touch with reality and not be mindful (examples: television, the internet, video games).

In my opinion, if one can drink responsibly and not break any of the other precepts as a result of drinking, it's fine to drink, especially at social gatherings or on special occasions- it's intoxication we should be wary of.

What is more important than avoiding intoxication is avoiding the sense of superiority that many western Buddhists seem to be prone to developing. I've seen many self-proclaimed Buddhists openly look down on and "trash talk" those they deem "ignorant" and "base", and consider themselves superior. That's vanity, and a form of attachment.

I believe drinking just causes more suffering but do you believe that it will effect your karma and does the buzz add up to the bad karma?

Remeber the fifth precept.

Also regard your intentions behind your drinking. Are you drinking to get drunk, or just for the taste?

I cannot drink in moderation, nor can I smoke in moderation. It created too much suffering. So I gave it up, and now I'm finally glad I did.

Well, I am not into drinking, although like to drink a glass malibu once a month/few months, depending on my actual financial situation^^
But, in my opinion drinking should not be a part of life. That thing destroys our physical body,and restrict a sober looking on the world. I mean, it's easysaid BAD, but not that bad, that I should stop it. My body is going to die anyway.But, everyone should control such "drugs".

I've Drank before, but rarely. I never liked it. I was a light-weight anyway. I could never get past flavored smirnoff beers and Baileys Irish creme. Everything else tasted disgusting to me.

It's easier for me not to drink because of the fact that I don't like alcohol to begin with, and Honestly, I like being the sober one at a party. It makes watching all the drunks make fools of themsevles far more entertaining. mrgreen

Even though you can't say its right to get drunk, it's not like its completely horrible if you do. I think of it like this:

a vow you make is like a bone

when it is broken, it is a terrible blow to the person that it's part of.

Eventually it will heal, but when it heals it becomes much stronger, making it less likely for it to be broken again.

Every time I end up breaking a vow, It hurts me a bit to think that I let my guard down enough to let temptations get the better of me, but I make a promise to myself not to let it happen again, so in the end, I come out stronger than I ever was before biggrin

I hate alchohol with a passion I have drank it a number of time maybe even just enough to count on one hand which I am proud of but I don't care for how it made me feel plus I think it too expensive considering I don't care for the taste of any of it.

I feel at best you can break even with alchohol. More likely you break negative and I never feel that with alchohol you break positive. The stuff is bad news through and through.