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This is a difficult question because there are a lot of fine lines that can be easily crossed and these lines vary from person to person. If it were merely a question about drinking without the age factor thrown in, I could at least say that it would be wrong if you're underage. However, it gets a little more tricky once you are of age.
Nowhere in the Bible does it ever say that a person can not or even should not drink. In Ephesians 5:18, Paul writes: "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit." For years, people have taken this passage, combined with Romans 12:3 which reads: "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly that you ought, but rather think of yourself with SOBER judgement, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you," to mean don't drink at all because of scientific studies showing that one drink affects your mental capacities. While this is true, they're missing the point of Romans 12:3 all together. What does it say at the end? "In accordance with the measure of FAITH God has given you."
Does having a drink affect your faith? It doesn't affect mine! If I have a drink, I still know that Christ is my savior! See, the passage in Romans is talking about spiritual sobriety, in that, we ought not think we are more than we are. I'm going to use an exaggerated example here: we ought not think we can walk on water if our faith does not supply for us to walk on water. Now back to Ephesians, Paul writes to "Not be drunk on wine."
By wine, he is talking about alcohol in general but wine was the prevalent drink of the day. If he were writing to the US in 2001, he most likely would have used beer. Now about the consumption of it. He says, "Do not be drunk." He didn't say, "Don't drink." Notice what he also said, "that leads to debauchery." Let's say you went to the bar. You had a couple(1-2) drinks and some guy starts hitting on you. It's obvious what he wants, but how likely are you to give in to him? Not very? Not at all? Here's where the fine line comes. How much is too much?
This is where it gets dangerous because once you start drinking, like the scientific studies have shown, you start to lose some of that self control. Another dangerous side is that this line of "how much is too much" differs every time you drink because there are so many variables, from what you've eaten, to your body temperature, to how hydrated you are before you began drinking, how often you go to the bathroom, etc. All these come in to play.
Another couple of variables that come into play are the company you're with and the environment you may be drinking in. If you're sitting around with your girlfriends discussing whatever women talk about when they're together that's going to be a lot different than when you're say, at a dance club.
Another question is this: why are you drinking in the first place? I used to drink almost daily, and let me tell you--I had a really good time doing it. I don't even know why I drank as much as I did. I drank to "loosen up" or whatever, but I've come to learn that I actually drank to "dummy up." Let me explain. I'm not trying to brag about myself, but I am very smart. This has actually been a hindrance to me socially because the way my brain processes information doesn't click with the rest of society. I'd say really off the wall things, and people would just look at me like, "What planet is this guy from?" When I'd start drinking, my "animal instincts" would take over and my "strange" cognitive thoughts would slip out the window. I could then communicate with the rest of the people because my brain wouldn't be flying off on wild tangents like it is now. I also smoked, uh-hum, stuff for the same reason.
Like I said, it's a really fine line. On occasion, I'll have drink or two when I'm out with my friends, but I never go beyond that. I've found that I don't particularly care for the way it makes me feel. That's only come from stopping. For quite a while, it was a normal feeling; but now that I've gotten away from it, I can't stand to drink more than that.
The biblical standpoint is this...don't drink so much that you are more apt to do things you normally wouldn't even consider. I think a drink to loosen up once in a while can actually be healthy. If you're out to sing karaoke, and you need a glass of "liquid courage" to get up and sing, I don't see anything wrong with it IF you can limit it to that. If you can't, don't even try it. I may be treading dangerous water by saying this, but I really think it is OK--if it doesn't turn to excess. There is scientific evidence to support the health issue. They say that a glass of red wine a day can be good for the heart without damage to the liver. Please don't ask me for the references for the scientific studies, I just know that I've read them.
This is an issue that each individual has to figure out for themselves. This is not an endorsement to drink, but a caution. Alcohol can be very dangerous because it becomes harder to say you've had enough as you have more and more. The "play it safe" method is to not drink at all. This is the safest, but not a requirement. If you've ever had any problem with alcohol at all, not just necessarily alcoholism, don't even try it. Stay away.
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