Q&A from the Bais HaVaad Halacha Hotline

Drinking Problem

March 16, 2023

Q It is difficult for me to drink alcohol. What is the minimum I must imbibe for dalet kosos, and may I use grape juice instead?

A The cup must hold at least a revi’is and be filled to capacity (O.C. 271:9, 472:9). According to the Chazon Ish, a revi’is is 5.07 fl. oz., and according to R’ Moshe Feinstein, for a mitzvah deRabanan like this one it is 3.3 fl. oz.

Lechat’chilah the full revi’is should be downed. Bedi’eved, most of a revi’is is enough (Mishnah Brurah 472:30), provided it is also a cheekful. (The average man’s cheekful is this amount, but a larger man would require more; see Biur Halacha ibid. s.v. Veyishteh.)

Some poskim (quoted in Shulchan Aruch 472:9) say that if the cup is larger than a revi’is, the majority of the cup must be drained, so the Mishnah Brurah (ibid. 33) suggests not using a large cup if one wishes to minimize his consumption. If a small cup is not available, one may be lenient, as the halacha follows the other view (ibid.).

Some poskim, including R’ Moshe and Rav Elyashiv, consider grape juice an inferior option for dalet kosos because, not being an intoxicant, it lacks the quality of derech cheirus (the manner of freedom). Others accept it lechat’chilah (see Teshuvos Vehanhagos 2:243), but all agree that it is best to mix in some wine (ibid.).