Alcohol
Wine and alcohol in general derange one's nature. Once you drink alcohol, you lose your concentration. And then you are likely to do just about anything, which subsequently violated five precepts.
If one refrains from drinking, one's nature will not get scattered and one's actions will not be upside down. Another reason is that the odor of wine and other alcoholic drinks, which may be considered fragrant by people and ghosts, upsets the Bodhisattvas and good spirits. They do not like the smell. Bodhisattvas and Arhats regard the smell of wine as we regard the smell of urine. To them it is rank and stinking. People don't like to be around toilets, cesspools, and sewers. Further, wine and meat are aphrodisiacs, which stimulate sexual desire.
Alcohol, the Buddha taught more than 2,000 years ago, is a poison that clouds the inherent clarity of a mind.
Under Mahasamghika Vinaya (《摩訶僧祇律》 Chapter 20), Venerable Svagata went to placate the evil naga named Amra who had caused a drought. Five hundred families offered various kinds of delicious foods to Venerable Svagata. Due to thirst, Venerable Svagata drank an offered alcohol which appeared as water. He returned to the monastery where the World Honored One [the Buddha] was teaching the Dharma in a great assembly at the time. The influence of the alcohol was all too much as he became unwell and fell onto the ground. It was in front of the World Honored One that he stretched out his legs and passed out. The Buddha said, “From today onward, it is not permitted to drink alcohol.”
Alcohol consumption is inconsistent with a Buddhist's quest to understand and develop the mind. Buddhists believe that by practicing meditation, wisdom and morality, every individual has the innate ability to experience true happiness.
Despite the popularity of Buddhism as a philosophy in the west, few people are willing to follow the Buddha's advice on alcohol. People with a shallow understanding of Buddhism may believe that alcohol is acceptable if used in moderation, justifying this in terms of the Buddha's preaching of the 'Middle Way' philosophy.
The Buddha was against any form of alcohol consumption, even in moderation, because of the effect it has on the mind.
The Buddha also taught that each individual must be responsible for one's own Karma. This involves being responsible for the consequences of one's actions, speech and thoughts. Alcohol tends to encourage irresponsibility. It is possible to generate much negative karma while under the influence of alcohol.
The Buddha taught that true happiness was to be found in letting go of attachments. Many people are deeply attached to the feelings they experience when drinking alcohol. Through meditation it is possible to let go of this attachment. Buddhist meditation has been successful in treating alcoholism.
Many people use alcohol as a means of avoiding problems that arise in life. Buddhism encourages people to deal with life's difficulties and challenges.
Alcohol offers no benefit to our health and in practicing Buddhism. Therefore, a serious Buddhist should avoid consuming it.