Mainstream Sunni and Shi’a Muslims claim to avoid consuming, producing, selling, and transporting all alcohol however alcohol is contained in small quantities in all foods and many consumer products. Avoiding alcohol totally is impossible. Alcohol is also a chemistry term, therefore it is difficult to apply it in a religious context.

Therefore, consumption of alcohol is permitted as long as it does not significantly affect one’s life or the lives of others. In practice, this means:

• avoiding drunk driving as it endangers one’s life and the lives of others.
• avoiding drinking so much that it significantly increases the risk of health problems.
• avoiding being drunk to a point that others are pained, such as vomiting on people, sexually abusing people, fighting, and breaking property.
• avoiding drinking to a point that it causes a financial burden that negatively affects oneself or dependents.

Of course, it is better to avoid drunkenness completely. Everything in moderation.