◇ Depends on the scene Lucky or not depending on the scene — see "In this scene" below
A symbol of release or celebration. Drinking happily means good relationships; getting drunk, escapism.
Category: Food (how to read this category)
Psychology
Alcohol in a dream shows a wish to release tension or deepen bonds. Passing out drunk may instead reveal a wish to escape reality. Whether you were drunk or sober in the dream is the key.
Folklore and history
In Japan, sake links gods and people; festival offerings of omiki are shared afterwards. Yet in legend Susanoo slew the serpent Yamata-no-Orochi after getting it drunk, and Minamoto no Raiko's band defeated the oni Shuten-doji with sake. Drink both celebrates and lulls the mighty.
A study of the Shinano miko who channeled the words of the dead and the gods through kuchiyose (spirit-calling) — a reference for our mediumship articles.
The Shinano Miko: Traveling Spirit-Channeling Shamanesses (Yohei Nakano / Showado)
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This site's view
In this site's view, the dream marks the line between opening up and letting your guard down; both serpent and oni fell once sake softened them. Laughing at a happy table means warm bonds; finding only strangers around you suggests choosing more carefully whom you trust.
Going deeper: our reading
Alcohol dreams include drinking quietly alone, not just lively parties. In this site's reading, slowly savouring a drink alone reflects a wish to rest and face your feelings without worrying about anyone else. If you felt calm, you are caring for yourself well; if lonely, you may really want someone to listen to you. Some people who cannot drink in real life find themselves drinking freely in dreams. This is our speculation, but that may be a wish to break out of your usual shell and open up more easily with others. Pouring drinks for a boss or elder suggests you are so attentive to others that your own enjoyment comes last. A dream whose heavy, hungover feeling lingers after waking may mean you are still dragging yesterday's fatigue or worries. After this dream, gently ask whether your heart wants fun or rest.
What to do on waking
Drink extra water today, and if you plan to drink, have one less glass. A short message to someone you truly want to be close to is a good move too.
In this scene
- ◎Good Eating with pleasure: body and heart filled, luck ripening (good)
- ▲Warn Bad or rotten: a sign of strain or a place that does not suit you (warning)
- Unable to eat, or it is taken: frustration at something out of reach
- It felt good: the lucky reading gets stronger
- ▲Warn It felt frightening or painful: the warning reading gets stronger — rest first
- The same dream again and again: something your mind has not settled yet
Turning a bad dream
In Japan, people once tried to turn a worrying dream for the better: a baku charm under the pillow, telling the dream to a nandina bush, or reciting an old dream-turning poem. Read the column on dream trading and dream-turning
A comical occult report by Ginty Kobayashi, a writer known for his hands-on, in-the-field reporting — a reference for our reading-feature articles.
Tasteless Ghost Stories (Ginty Kobayashi / Futami Shobo)
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FAQ
Q. Is dreaming of alcohol a good or bad sign?
A. Lucky or not depending on the scene — see "In this scene" below. A symbol of release or celebration. Drinking happily means good relationships; getting drunk, escapism.
Q. Why do I keep dreaming of alcohol?
A. A recurring dream usually points to something your mind has not settled yet. Research suggests such dreams tend to stop once the underlying worry is resolved. Keeping a dream diary helps you notice what triggers it.
Q. What should I do after dreaming of alcohol?
A. Drink extra water today, and if you plan to drink, have one less glass. A short message to someone you truly want to be close to is a good move too.
Related dream essays
- The Science of Nightmares: Why We Dream of Fear
- True Dreams and Reverse Dreams: Why We Read Dreams Backwards
Read this dream with your own scene in the Dream Dictionary →
More dreams in "Food"
※ Dream interpretation here is entertainment drawing on psychology and folklore — it is not scientifically proven. "This site's view" is our own interpretation.
