Among the Amish, every choice reflects a balance between tradition, practicality and spiritual grounding. Their relationship with alcohol is no exception. While many imagine the Amish as strictly abstaining from anything modern or indulgent, the truth is far more layered. Different communities follow different rules, and their approach to alcohol is shaped by intention, purpose and the desire to preserve harmony within the group. To understand whether the Amish drink alcohol, we need to look at how history, faith and daily life guide their decisions.
Alcohol in Old Order Amish Communities
In most Old Order groups, alcohol is used with caution and purpose. These communities hold closely to the Ordnung, the set of unwritten rules that governs daily life. While the Ordnung discourages excess or anything that promotes pride or recklessness, it does not automatically forbid alcohol.
Some Old Order families may serve small amounts of homemade wine during weddings or major celebrations. These wines often come from old family recipes, crafted with the same care they use in their food preservation. The focus is always on tradition rather than recreation. The wine is shared to honor family and community, not to create excitement or intoxication.
Medicinal wines and herbal tonics also have a place in these communities. A small dose of elderberry wine for winter immunity or bitters for digestion is not uncommon. These remedies reflect a long-standing belief that the earth provides what the body needs and that natural preparations should be respected.
Alcohol in More Moderate or Progressive Communities
In certain Amish districts that lean more moderate, beer or wine may be enjoyed socially after a long day of farm work or during community gatherings such as barn raisings. Even in these places, the use is conservative. Moderation is deeply valued. Drinking is done quietly, often in the company of close friends or family, and rarely extends into the kind of behavior that the community would view as disruptive.
These communities recognize that fellowship plays a role in emotional and social health. A small drink among trusted friends can be part of shared relaxation, but it never becomes the center of the gathering. The Amish view alcohol through the lens of responsibility, not entertainment.
New Order Amish and Abstinence
New Order Amish groups are generally the strictest regarding alcohol. Many of them avoid it entirely. Their focus on spiritual purity and personal discipline leads them to believe that alcohol is unnecessary for a fulfilling life. They emphasize youth guidance, clear thinking and strong moral choices, values they feel are better supported without alcohol in the picture.
Even in these communities, the reasoning is not rooted in judgment but in clarity. They prefer to remove influences that might distract from faith, family or self-control. Abstinence becomes a way to protect inner peace.
Community Expectations and Social Responsibility
Across all Amish groups, one belief remains consistent. Intoxication is unacceptable. It disrupts order, damages trust and contradicts the humility they work so hard to nurture. Anyone who shows signs of drinking to excess will be gently but firmly corrected. The goal is not punishment but restoration. Amish communities believe that a person’s behavior affects everyone around them, so responsibility is always communal.
Alcohol is treated as a tool. Some use it medicinally. Some use it socially. Some avoid it altogether. But none of them allow it to take up more space than it deserves. Their discipline is not about restriction. It is about creating lives that stay balanced, grounded and focused on what truly matters.
Why the Amish Approach Is So Misunderstood
Outsiders often assume the Amish live by strict yes or no rules for every part of life. But the Amish worldview is shaped more by principles than absolutes. The question is never, can we. It is always, should we. Should this action support the community. Should it strengthen faith. Should it protect the family.
This thoughtful, measured decision making is what guides their relationship with alcohol. Understanding it gives us a clearer view of how they maintain a culture that resists chaos even in a fast-moving world.
Learn From The Amish Ways
If you want to understand the deeper wisdom behind Amish traditions, The Amish Ways offers a practical and inspiring guide into their world. Inside this book, you will discover how Amish families stay resilient without modern stress, how they manage their finances with remarkable discipline, how they craft natural remedies from simple ingredients, how they maintain strong community bonds and how they raise children with calm confidence and purpose. The Amish Ways also explores their methods for preserving food, building durable homes, structuring daily routines and creating peaceful households built on clarity and intention. If you are searching for a life with more balance, more stability and more meaning, this book will show you the timeless skills and habits the Amish have relied on for generations.
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