R’ Moshe Sternbuch in Mo’adim U’zemanim (Vol. 2, siman 175) writes that the obligation to drink “ad deloi yoda” on Purim is rabbinic in nature, and the only way to fulfil the rabbinic obligation of משתה ושמחה – “feasting and rejoicing” is to eat meat and drink wine “ad deloi yoda”.
Is the Mitzvah to Become Intoxicated Specifically with Wine?
The big question that is always asked, is if one must specifically drink wine, like what was consumed at the mishteh of Achashveirosh (like Rashi tells us, the reason it was called “mishteh” is because the meal is named after the wine), or if one can also fulfill the mitzvah with other intoxicating alcoholic beverages (such as; ale, beer, whiskey, vodka, arak, brandy, cider, 95% alcohol, liqueur, and the like), which have a significant alcohol concentration?
As Always, It’s a Machlokes
R’ Yosef Engel (Gilyonei HaShas, Megillah 7b) and R’ Tzvi Pesach Frank (Mikrai Kodesh, Purim, siman 44) are medayek that one must specially drink wine, as Rashi (Megillah 7b) interprets the word “libisumei” to mean: להשתכר ביין – “to become intoxicated with wine.” This is also meduyak in the Rambam (Megillah 2:15). From the Biur Halachah it also clear that one must drink wine, as he says that the reason there is a mitzvah to drink is to remember the mishteh of Achashveirosh and there they drank wine (some ask, that surely at the mishteh of Achashveirosh - the biggest mishteh in the world, there must have been other alcoholic beverages too? However, we can answer that the main one was wine).
From the Shu”t Radvaz (1:462) and the Roke’ach (siman 237) it is also clear that one must specifically drink wine. On the other hand, from the lashon [language] of the Shulchan Aruch which fails to speak this out (695:2) and from the silence of the main meforshim, it would seem one doesn’t specifically need to use wine. See Piskei Teshuvos (695, ois 3, pg. 580) who speaks about this at length.
The final ruling of the poskim of our times is that other alcoholic beverages may also be used. R’ Nissim Karelitz (Shalmei Todah, Purim 31, pg. 326) holds the מצוה מן המובחר – ideal manner to fulfill the mitzvah, is to use wine which is what the miracles of Purim came about with, however, one can fulfill the mitzvah with other beverages as well. Similar to what we find by Chanukah candles, that ideally one should use olive oil like what was used for the Chanukah miracle, however, one fulfills the mitzvah with other types of oils and candles as well.
They also say in the name of R’ Elyashiv (Halichos V’Hanhagos Purim) that there is a hiddur to use wine which is what the miracles of Purim came about with, and the minhag is to use wine, however, if one finds it difficult, he may use other beverages to fulfil the mitzvah (Mishnah Berurah, Dirshu 695, Biurim U’Mussafim, ois 16).
Two Dinim
Some are mechadesh that there are two separate dinim; a din of mishteh which should be fulfilled with meat and wine just like on Yom Tov, and like the Rambam (Hilchos Megillah 2:15) writes: כיצד חובת סעודה זו שיאכל בשר ושותה יין עד שישתכר וירדם בשכרות – “How should one fulfil the obligation of this meal? He should eat meat and drink wine until he becomes intoxicated and falls into a sleep as a result of his intoxications.” As well as this, there is an obligation to get drunk “ad deloi yoda” and this can be fulfilled with any alcoholic beverage, and even with sleep, as is clear from the Rema (695).
The above approach is meduyak in the Shulchan Aruch (695), as when he talks about the obligation of “ad deloi yoda” he doesn’t mention wine; on the other hand when he talks about eating on Purim he does mention wine and writes: יש מי שאומר שאונן מותר בבשר ויין, דלא אתי עשה דיחיד דאבילות ודחי עשה ד רבים דאורייתא לשמוח בפורים – “some say that an oinen is allowed to eat meat and drink wine, as the positive commandment of an individual to do with mourning doesn’t override the positive public commandment to rejoice and be happy on Purim”, we see that the obligation of mishteh is with wine, whereas the obligation of “ad deloi yoda” is with anything.
From the words of the Steipler (Orchos Rabbeinu, Vol. 3, pg. 56) it’s also clear that one can use alcoholic beverages other than wine, this is also implicit in the Aruch HaShulchan (695:5). Although interestingly, the Aruch HaShulchan warns to keep away from whiskey since it causes one to vomit. Even when consuming alternative alcoholic beverages, one should make sure to drink at least a little bit of wine to fulfill the mitzvah of mishteh.
