Wiggle Room

(Pro 31:6 KJV) Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

Is “strong drink” (7941) different from “wine” (3196)?  They did not have the trick of distilling hard liquor at that time in history so we are not talking about things like whiskey.  Almost every time that “strong drink” is mentioned it is linked with the use of wine so I would imagine that there is a bit of poetic license involved.  Not being a drinker I am speaking from speculation but I think it was customary for people to mix their wine with water.  How much water depended on the occasion.  If you were having a time of serious discussion there would be a lot of water and little wine.  If you were out to get drunk as a skunk you would leave the water for washing dishes.  That would then qualify as “strong drink”.

All of that is academic because almost every time you come across this word formula it is used in a negative context.  It speaks of losing control and wanting to abandon reality.  It is to be avoided.

So?  Again I concede that a bit of alcohol does not send you to hell but I also hold that it is better to avoid it all together.