Purim is my favorite holiday. I love hearing the Megillah, with its deep and meaningful lesson that the real King is directing events in the background and nothing happens by chance. Even on the simple level, it’s quite an exciting story! I’m fond of Purim’s unique mitzvos and festive get-togethers. And I marvel at the creative costumes and mishloach manos that people come up with. Or maybe I love Purim simply because I like to laugh (who doesn’t?) and make others laugh too. And there’s a lot of shared laughter come Adar 14.
But there is one aspect of how the holiday has come to be “celebrated” by many that puts a damper on my joy – and not only mine, I’m sure. That is the excessive drinking and drunkenness that many have come to believe is not only permitted but obligatory on Purim. What I am referring to is not the halachically-prescribed drinking leshem Shamayim but the out-of-hand boisterousness that leads to chillul Hashem.
Why Drink?
The custom of drinking on Purim is derived from Mordechai’s directive in the Megillah that the Jews should celebrate “yemei mishteh vesimcha,” that is, having a meal where wine is consumed. In the Gemara, Rava comments, “It is one’s duty levasumei, to make oneself fragrant [with wine], on Purim until one cannot tell the difference between ‘arur Haman’ (cursed be Haman) and ‘baruch Mordechai’ (blessed be Mordechai).”
There is a wide range of halachic opinion as to the meaning of this statement. Some say one need not drink anything at all, that it is not even a mitzva. Some say one should drink just a bit more than usual. Others call for drinking until one is easily confused. At the far end of the spectrum are those who hold one should drink until he falls asleep. (Ask your rabbi for his opinion.) In any case, all of the opinions about drinking pertain only to the Purim seuda (meal) itself and not at any other time during Purim.
But no matter which practice you choose – from the most lenient to the most extreme – no one advocates becoming so “plastered” that one’s behavior is out of control. The purpose of drinking on Purim is to get closer to Hashem in appreciation and thanksgiving. As the Shulchan Aruch states, “Echad hamarbeh ve’echad hamamis, ubilvad sheyichaveyn libo lashamayim. (One drinks a lot and one a little; the main thing is to direct his heart to Heaven.)”
One beloved Baltimore rebbe who encourages his students to get drunk on Purim, advises them of these caveats: “Drinking should only be done during the seuda. It should be done with seichal (common sense) and guidance. In addition, one should only drink if he wants to use this as a tool to grow in his spirituality, not just to have fun. Anyone who would even toy with drinking other than on Purim and would use Purim for a test run should stay far away from it,” he cautions. “And anyone who is willing to use Purim as a means to drink shouldn’t touch anything on Purim. Purim is Purim, and drinking is only for a mature, balanced person who knows that Purim is different and who knows that drinking itself is exceptionally hazardous. There is no reason for a person to start drinking in general, which is a terrible thing. No one ever plans to become an addict, but this is what can happen to people unless they are careful,” he concludes.
According to Rabbi Shmuel Silber, “A successful Purim is one in which I have done something to increase unity and love within the ranks of our people. If one is going to drink on Purim, it must allow for spiritual elevation and cannot be the cause for the spiritual or social downfall of the individual.”
An “Ask the Rabbi” article on Aish.com echoes these sentiments: “Indeed, the Shulchan Orach explicitly says that if one suspects the drinking may affect him negatively, he should not drink: Getting drunk on Purim is actually one of the most difficult mitzvos to do correctly. A person should only drink if it will lead to positive spiritual results – e.g., under the loosening effect of the alcohol, greater awareness will surface of the love for G-d and Torah found deep in the heart.” The author concludes that there are those who can indeed perform this mitzva correctly: “…In my personal experience – having been in the company of Torah scholars who were totally drunk on Purim – they acted with extreme gentleness and joy. Amid the Jewish songs and beautiful words of Torah, the event was very special for me every year.”
It seems, therefore, that one may celebrate Purim either entirely sober or totally drunk – but drunk only as long as his behavior does not cause a chillul Hashem, bringing shame to the Torah and the Jewish people, causing one to lose his own sense of kavod, or endangering himself or others. This type of drunkenness is considered a very serious sin.
Liquid Danger
On a practical level, another thing to keep in mind, for adults as well as kids, is the danger of alcohol poisoning. I came across a website called B.R.A.D., which stands for “be responsible about drinking.” Sadly, it was created by the family and friends of a Michigan State University junior named Bradley McCue, who died of alcohol poisoning after celebrating his 21st birthday.
Alcohol poisoning is a medical emergency, but there is no sure way to prevent it (other than refraining from drink) because people respond to alcohol differently. Some of the many factors that affect blood alcohol concentration (BAC) include a person’s size, gender, and physical condition; what they have had to eat; how much sleep they have had; what medications they are taking; and, importantly, the actual alcohol content of their particular drink.
Drinkers should know their “alcohol math,” the basic fact that the amount of alcohol in a 12-ounce glass of beer, a 4-ounce glass of wine, and 1.25 ounces of 80-proof liquor is similar. In whatever form it is consumed, a large amount of alcohol in a person’s system is dangerous and can result in unconsciousness, and the heart and lungs may be slowed to the point of stopping. The website lists the symptoms of alcohol poisoning, which include “1) a person being in a state of unconsciousness or semi-consciousness, 2) a slow respiration rate (eight or fewer breaths per minute, or lapses between breaths of more than eight seconds), and 3) cold, clammy, pale, or bluish skin….It is dangerous to assume a person will just sleep it off…When in doubt, call for emergency assistance.”
Take Care of your Brain
There are other concerns when it comes to drinking on Purim, especially for youth. The human brain is still in the process of development until around the age of 25. Howard Reznick, LCSW-C, is Manager of Prevention/Education at Jewish Community Services and has 40 years of experience in the field. He often speaks to youth about alcohol. In his presentations, he emphasizes the importance of respecting the complexity of the brain, which controls many parts of the body. “Alcohol,” he says “is a psychoactive substance,” meaning a drug that changes brain function, resulting in alterations in coordination, perception, mood, consciousness, and behavior. He tells students that “when alcohol is consumed, it goes directly to the brain and ‘messes with its signaling,’ leading to impaired judgment.” Reznick’s message? “When it comes to alcohol, less is more.” The problem,” he says, “is that once you’ve had a little to drink, it makes the brain forget this message, and more might seem like an excellent idea.” Before the first drink, the brain was “on guard duty,” but once the person drinks, the brain lets the guard drop. As Mr. Reznick says, “getting intoxicated is not healthy for a developing brain.”
It’s not particularly healthy for the rest of us either.
Not to Mention the Legalities
One must be aware of Maryland state law as well. My understanding is that you cannot serve liquor to anyone under the age of 21 unless it is within a residence and there is a parent of that child (or close family member, generally meaning a spouse, over the age of 21) present. That would seem to imply that the parent cannot be impaired either – because how could he be able to supervise the child if he is? There are exemptions to this prohibition for “religious ceremonies,” and although eating at a Purim seuda might fall under that category, certainly no drinks served to underage youth outside of those parameters would be exempt from the law.
The Laws of Physics and Common Sense
It goes without saying that no one should drink and drive. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s website states, “What many people refer to as ‘drunk driving’ is more precisely described as ‘alcohol-impaired driving.’ In fact, many alcohol-impaired drivers do not appear drunk in the stereotypical way. Even small amounts of alcohol can impair the skills involved in driving, but the persistent notion that the problem is predominantly one of drunk drivers has allowed many drinking drivers to decide they are not part of the problem. In all 50 states, drivers younger than 21 are prohibited from operating a vehicle with any detectable blood alcohol. Most states define this as a BAC at or above 0.02 percent; others specify BACs lower than 0.02 percent.”
The best course of action, of course, is not to drive at all if you drank. No matter how you do or don’t indulge on Purim, please designate a non-drinking person to be a driver and keep your drinking within the parameters of halacha.
Drug Interactions Can Be Dangerous
Another thing to keep in mind if you will be consuming alcohol is medication interactions. According to pharmacist Steve Seidel, alcohol taken with any type of medication could cause dangerous side effects. “I wouldn’t condone taking alcohol with any medication,” he said because it will affect the way the medications metabolize. If you are already taking medicines every day, and especially if you are currently taking an opioid, be wary and ask your doctor or pharmacist before you indulge. Medications that may be commonly taken that need to be considered could include drugs for ADHD, diabetes, antidepressants, muscle relaxants, anti-anxiety drugs, and antibiotics, as well as many over-the-counter varieties.”
One online source states that “Non-narcotic analgesics like aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen, when mixed with alcohol, increase possible irritation and bleeding in the stomach and intestines. Some analgesics may also contribute to liver damage.”
Watch Out for Others
Despite all that has been written here and elsewhere, Rome wasn’t built in a day, as they say. Even non-drinking drivers should therefore drive more carefully on Purim, because those who are alcohol impaired may still get behind the wheel, chas veshalom, driving around drunk or not paying enough attention. I would also caution drivers to please be careful when delivering mishloach manos. Last year as I was driving down my street, I was lucky not to hit a young girl. On her way back from dropping off mishloach manos, she darted out into traffic in front of me to get back into her mother’s van, which was waiting with the door open for her, on the opposite side of the street. Fortunately, I was “on the lookout” and actually driving under the speed limit and was therefore able to stop in time. But what if I had been going the legal speed limit?
There are so many fun things to do on Purim, so many opportunities to do chesed with the unique mitzvos the day entails. Purim is meant to be such a joyous holiday. Let’s keep it that way! Have a Purim same’ach.
