Until 1951, the Conference made a strong appeal "to practise total abstinence from alcoholic beverages, not as a burdensome duty, but as a privilege of Christian service". This is said to represent the peak of official support for abstinence in the Methodist Church, and after this time such support declined rapidly.
In 1987, a Methodist Conference Report on alcohol consumption Through a Glass Darkly was released. It gave a formal recommendation to all Methodist regarding the use of alcohol. It allows Methodist to make a personal commitment either to total abstinence or to responsible drinking.
For those who practise total abstinence, they have to take special care to avoid authoritarian attitudes which may be counter-productive; and where they practise responsible drinking take special care to demonstrate that this also involves self-control.
In addition, the Methodist Church pledged to actively engage in the promotion of responsible attitudes to alcohol and in the support (whether directly or indirectly) of those suffering the harmful consequences of their own alcohol misuse, or that of others.
Quoted from a 1999 Methodist Conference report, it reaffirmed, "Methodist attitudes to alcohol have changed significantly in recent decades from a widespread commitment to abstinence, to one in which moderate, responsible drinking is more common."
John Wesley, who co-founded Methodism in 1739 with Charles Wesley, was not teetotal and once described wine "as one of the noblest cordials in creation". He was, however, against the consumption of spirits.
The Methodist Church has around 300,000 members in Britain.
The Church of England, the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales are among those churches which require communion wine to be alcoholic, and which permit the consumption of alcohol on church premises. Many Roman Catholic premises have full licences.
The United Reformed Church requires communion wine to be non-alcoholic, but permits local congregations to decide whether alcohol may be consumed on church premises.
The Baptist Union of Great Britain leaves decisions about consumption of alcohol to local congregations. Baptist churches can therefore be found in which communion wine is alcoholic, and alcohol is served on church premises.
