Noah Vinter
Winston Churchill was a brilliant statesman and a prodigious drinker, with a daily alcohol intake that was formidable by the standards of any hardcore drinker. He drank all day long, starting first thing in the morning and continuing until bedtime, and sometimes beyond. Despite this, it is believed that he was never truly drunk. His daily alcohol consumption is estimated to have been around 20 units, or 244ml of pure alcohol, including champagne, wine, whisky, cognac, and brandy. This was ten times the recommended weekly intake in the UK at the time. Churchill's ability to consume vast quantities of alcohol and tobacco without apparent ill effects has been a subject of fascination and speculation for many.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Daily alcohol intake | 244 ml of pure alcohol |
| Minimum daily consumption | Several whisky and sodas (less than an ounce of whisky) around 11 am, teatime and bedtime and occasionally one other during the evening |
| Alcohol intake at lunch and dinner | 36 ml of alcohol per hour |
| Alcohol intake at bedtime | 8 ml |
| Daily cigar consumption | 10 |
| Lifetime cigar consumption | 200,000 |
| Alcohol intake during World War II | Glass of whiskey by his side |
| Alcohol intake during meals | Copious amounts |
| Alcohol dependency | Alcohol dependent, occasional glass of hock with breakfast, heavy imbibing at mealtimes |
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What You'll Learn
Morning: Johnnie Walker Red with soda
Winston Churchill was a prolific statesman and a prolific drinker. His alcohol consumption was formidable by the standards of any hardcore drinker. Churchill's affinity for alcohol first showed itself when he was a journalist. When he was sent to the front line to cover the Boer War for the Morning Post in 1899, the then 25-year-old took 36 bottles of wine, 18 bottles of aged scotch, and six bottles of vintage brandy with him.
Churchill's drinking habits continued throughout his life, and he was rarely seen without a glass of whiskey by his side. He started his days with a "daily whiskey mouthwash", and his minimum daily consumption of alcohol included several whiskey and sodas (less than an ounce of whiskey) around 11 am, teatime, and bedtime, and occasionally one other during the evening.
One way Churchill liked to start his mornings was with Johnnie Walker Red and soda. He would have four portions of Johnnie Walker Red Label splashed into soda water. It is believed that he developed this habit of sterilizing water with Scotch during his time as a young soldier in the British Army.
Churchill's drinking habits were well known, and he even joked about them. He famously said, "I have taken more out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me." He also once told the King of Saudi Arabia that his absolute rule of life required drinking before, during, and after meals. Despite his heavy drinking, most people who knew him agreed that he was rarely drunk.
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Lunch: Whisky, champagne/wine
Winston Churchill was known for his love of alcohol and his drinking habits have been well-documented. Churchill's alcohol consumption was formidable by the standards of any hardcore drinker. He is said to have consumed more than 42,000 bottles of champagne in his lifetime, with his favourite being Pol Roger. He also enjoyed whisky and brandy.
Churchill's drinking habits were not limited to a particular time of day, but his lunchtime routine is particularly noteworthy. He would typically enjoy a pint-sized bottle of champagne during lunchtime, from 1 pm to 3 pm. This was accompanied by whisky, which he would sip throughout the day. Churchill's affinity for whisky was well-known, and he often had a glass by his side. He is quoted as saying, "When I was younger, I made it a rule never to take a strong drink before lunch. It is now my rule never to do so before breakfast."
Churchill's lunchtime drink of choice was often a combination of whisky and soda, with less than an ounce of whisky. He would also indulge in the occasional extra whisky during the afternoon. This was in addition to the whisky he would use as a "mouthwash" in the morning, which his private secretary Jock Colville referred to as a "daily whisky mouthwash."
Churchill's drinking habits were not limited to lunchtime, and he often continued drinking into the evening. He is reported to have said, "I've taken more out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me." His drinking habits were well-known and even admired by some, with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt marvelling at his ability to "smoke and drink so much and keep perfectly well."
Despite his reputation as a heavy drinker, most historians reject the belief that Churchill was an abuser of alcohol or an alcoholic. Professor Warren Kimball, for example, maintains that Churchill was not an alcoholic but "alcohol dependent." Churchill himself was aware of his limits and is known to have remarked, "my father taught me to have the utmost contempt for people who get drunk."
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Dinner: Whisky, champagne/wine
Winston Churchill was a prolific statesman and a prolific drinker. He was rarely seen without a glass of whisky by his side and was known to enjoy a whisky and soda, with less than an ounce of whisky, at various points throughout the day.
Churchill's drinking habits were well-known, and he was even granted a doctor's note to drink "unlimited" alcohol during Prohibition when he visited the USA in 1932. He is said to have started his day with a "daily whisky mouthwash", and he once quipped, "When I was younger I made it a rule never to take strong drink before lunch. It is now my rule never to do so before breakfast."
Whisky was not his only drink of choice, however. Churchill also loved champagne and wine, and he is believed to have consumed more than 42,000 bottles of Pol Roger champagne in his lifetime. He would often enjoy a bottle of champagne or wine with lunch and another with dinner, and he would sometimes round off his evening with a couple of glasses of cognac or brandy.
Churchill's drinking habits were certainly impressive, and he was known to consume far more alcohol than the average person. His daily intake of alcohol was estimated to be around 20 units, which is ten times the current recommended average in the UK. Despite this, he was rarely, if ever, seen to be truly drunk, and he lived to the impressive age of 90.
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Cigars and cognac
Winston Churchill was a prolific statesman and a prodigious drinker, with a legendary capacity for alcohol. He was rarely seen without a glass of whiskey by his side and was known to drink all day long, from the moment he woke up until he went to bed.
Churchill's drinking habits were well known, and he did little to quell the rumours. In fact, he believed that Europeans appreciated a leader who could hold his liquor. He once famously quipped, "I have taken more out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me."
While the exact amount he drank daily is unclear, we do know that he started his day with a "daily whisky mouthwash" or "a splash of Johnnie Walker Red Label mixed with soda water". Lunch and dinner were accompanied by brandy and champagne, and he often enjoyed several whiskies and sodas throughout the day. He also had a particular fondness for Pol Roger champagne, with estimates placing his lifetime consumption at 42,000 bottles.
Churchill's affinity for cigars was just as renowned as his love for alcohol. He is estimated to have smoked about 200,000 cigars in his lifetime, with a daily habit of around 10 cigars. He even had his own walk-in humidor at his home in the Kent countryside, which could hold 3,000 to 4,000 cigars.
Churchill's remarkable tolerance for alcohol and cigars was a source of fascination for many. Despite his heavy consumption, he was rarely, if ever, seen to be truly drunk. This earned him a reputation as a high-functioning alcoholic, although some historians dispute this label, arguing that he was alcohol-dependent rather than an alcoholic.
The British Bulldog himself had a witty response to those who questioned his drinking habits. When Conservative Lady Astor remarked, "You, Mr Churchill, are drunk", he replied, "My dear, you are ugly, and what’s more, you are disgustingly ugly. But tomorrow I shall be sober, and you will still be disgustingly ugly."
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Whisky before bed
Winston Churchill was a prolific statesman and a prolific drinker. He was known to drink throughout the day, every day, and was rarely seen without a glass of whiskey by his side.
Churchill's drinking habits were well known, and he was even given his own nickname by White House staffers in Franklin Roosevelt's administration: "Winston Hours". This referred to the president and prime minister getting drunk together. Churchill's affinity for alcohol was no secret, and he was known to start his day with a "daily whisky mouthwash".
Despite his high alcohol intake, Churchill was rarely seen to be drunk. He was known to have an unquenchable thirst and an extraordinarily high tolerance for alcohol. He once remarked, "I have taken more out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me." Indeed, Churchill lived to the age of 90, which has led some to question whether he was truly an alcoholic. Most historians reject this label, citing his ability to function at a high level despite his heavy drinking.
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Frequently asked questions
It is difficult to determine exactly how much alcohol Winston Churchill drank each day. However, it is believed that he drank throughout the day, starting with a "daily whisky mouthwash" in the morning. One estimate suggests that he consumed a minimum of several whisky and sodas throughout the day, a bottle of champagne or wine with lunch and dinner, and cognac and brandy to round off the night.
No, when he became Prime Minister in 1940, Churchill refused to moderate his drinking. He acknowledged his dependence on alcohol but made no attempts to quit.
Churchill's alcohol consumption was significantly higher than the average person. His daily intake of alcohol was estimated to be around 20 units, which is ten times the current recommended average in the UK.
