The Brethren are free to consume intoxicating liquor. By authority of Gospel Hall.org.
The following statement is found on the North American brethren website, Gospel Hall.org.
“Since the grape harvest was in the Fall (the seventh month) and the Passover at which the Lord's Supper was instituted was in the Spring (the first month) and since there would have been no refrigeration to inhibit the process of fermentation, it is likely that the wine at the last Passover was fermented. In addition, the Lord made water wine (John 4:46). Timothy was told to drink wine (I Timothy 5:23). The word in both those cases is the same word used for wine that causes drunkenness (Ephesians 5:18).
We cannot insist that the loaf be unleavened bread or the cup unfermented wine.”
— D. Oliver
What a pity that David Oliver continues in his misleading statements. We understand he has the backing of his North American brethren for publishing this plain error. We recommend every believer to read Ancient Wine & the Bible by D R Brumbelow, published by Free Church Press, October 2011. This is a very readable and well documented book showing that the grape harvest extended over several months according to the variety of grape. Preservation of unfermented grape juice was practiced and did not depend on refrigeration It was also known how to preserve fresh grapes for six or seven months of the year.
Wine is a generic word and can mean fermented or unfermented wine, the context usually making the meaning clear.
The implication that the Lord produced intoxicating liquor at Cana in defiance of Proverbs 23: 31, Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth its colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright, is a wicked indictment against Him.
If alcoholic wine is right at the Lord’s Supper, it cannot be wrong at any other time. If the consumption of alcohol is wrong at the Lord’s Supper, and we submit that it is wrong, then may the brethren not be in error in many other practices?
And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand. Genesis 40: 11. That is how the mighty Pharaoh drank his wine!