Can presidents get drunk?
Daniel Lopez
Updated on February 27, 2026
more if we could drink, many have wondered if the president is allowed to get drunk. Well, it's not cut and dry: the president can drink alcohol, and there's no technical limit as to how much.
Who was the drunkest president?
Ulysses S. Grant was one of the most habitual presidential dipsomaniacs. His lifelong reliance on alcohol to smooth his internal demons tarnished his distinguished career. With a low tolerance for the sauce, one or two drinks made him inebriated.Can a US president drink alcohol?
Not every president had strong ties to an alcoholic beverage — in fact, one actually pushed for a dry White House during his time in office and President Donald Trump has said he doesn't drink alcohol — but the majority of U.S. presidents seemed to have an affinity toward booze.Which presidents drank too much?
Ten Drunk Presidents Who Knew How to Party
- Drunk President #1 George Washington (President from 1789-1797)
- Drunk President #2 Thomas Jefferson (President from 1801-1809)
- Drunk President #3 Andrew Jackson (President from 1829-1837)
- Drunk President #4 Martin Van Buren (President from 1837-1841)
Did president Truman drink alcohol?
"Truman loved bourbon and quite often knocked down a shot of it in the morning," Will-Weber wrote of the wartime president. "He also liked a very strong Old Fashioned and would complain if his staff made it too weak."How Does President Obama Get Woken Up?
Was George Washington a heavy drinker?
George WashingtonWashington was a regular drinker -- oftentimes a bottle of Madeira at night, accompanied by rum, punch, or beer -- though that was relatively temperate for those days.