Do/can buddhists drink alcohol?

[cazboldy]

Hi Have bought my tutor some wine as a thank you at the end of my course, but it has just occurred to me that he is buddhist and I don't know if he is allowed to have alcohol

Anyone know?

BiL is a buddhist master or something similar. He enjoys a drink.

thanks ripishere, anyone else?

My Boss is a buddhist teacher/master man.
I've seen him down a pint in one.

I always thought that it was up to them (like eating meat) that it didn't matter either way?

apparently so.... he thanked me, and I asked him, and he said it's the intoxication he avoids not the alcohol itself, so a glass is fine, but he wouldn't get drunk

I am a Buddhist, I occasionally have a drink or two - most monks / nuns would (should!) not - lay practitioners vary in their observance of the 'avoiding intoxicants' precept. Many lay Buddhists drink but avoid getting drunk, as you lose the capacity for mindfulness and it buggers up your meditation practice!