Is Neglecting a Mitzvah A Reason Not to Get Drunk
The Chayei Adam writes: ואמנם היודע בעצמו שיזלזל אז במצוה מן המצות בנט"י וברכה ובהמ"ז או שלא יתפלל מנחה או מעריב או שינהוג קלות ראש מוטב שלא ישתכר וכל מעשיו יהיו לש"ש - “However, if one projects that his drinking will cause him to neglect a mitzvah, such a netilas yadayim, berachos, or birchas hamazon, or that he will fail to daven Minchah or Maariv, or he will act inappropriately, it is preferable that he not become intoxicated – for all ones actions must be for the sake of Heaven.”
Rav Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook in Shu”t Orach Mishpat (Miluim, 7 - LeHilchos Purim) questions this ruling, as he maintains anyone drunk should be in the category of ‘osek bemitzvah patur mimitzva’ and would be considered an ‘oness’, and can therefore make up his missed davening via tashlumin. In a similar vein, the Klausenberger Rebbe relates (Shu”t Divrei Yatziv, Orach Chaim vol. 2: 237, 3) from the Divrei Chaim and Chacham Tzvi, that any time Chazal use the term ‘chayav,’ it means that we are truly obligated to follow it, even with mesiras nefesh (even though he questions this definition). Accordingly, the obligation livesumei on Purim would be a ‘chiyuv gamur’.
