The Beverage Volume for a Beracha Acharona

Q. How much must one drink to be obligated to recite a beracha acharona?

A. Shulchan Aruch (190:3) writes that it is questionable how much wine must one drink to be obligated to recite a beracha acharona; a kezayis, a melo lugmav, a k’beitza or a revi’is? (A kezayis is the least amount, while a revi’is is the most.) The Magen Avrohom (190:4) maintains that this same ambiguity applies to all other liquid drinks as well. The reason for this uncertainty is that the Gemara does not explicitly address this issue. Each of the above four shiurim (measurements) apply to certain areas of halacha, and it is not clear to which domain should we compare the beracha acharona on drinks.

• A kezayis (size of an olive – approximately 1 fluid oz.) is the standard measure for a beracha acharona for solid food.
• A melo lugmav (cheekful; for an average-sized person, this would be 1.7 oz) is the amount of wine one must drink for kiddush, havdalah and the four kosos at the Pesach seder.
• A k’beitza (size of an egg - approximately 2 ounces) is the amount of food that satiates. The pasuk which is the basis for reciting a beracha acharona (Devarim 8:10), states, “You will eat and be satiated.” The Gemara (Berachos 49b) asserts that the minimum shiur for satiation is a k’beitza, and according to one opinion, this satiation refers to drinking.
• A revi’is (quarter of a lug – approximately 3 ounces) is the amount for many halachos regarding drinking, such as for a nazir to violate his vow.

Shulchan Aruch is uncertain what is the shiur. Furthermore, Shulchan Aruch advises that one should not drink an amount within this range of less than a revi’is and more than a kezayis. This is because a beracha acharona cannot be recited when there is a safek (uncertainty) if there is an obligation, as it may be a beracha livatala (unnecessary beracha), and it is improper to create a situation where a beracha may be required but cannot be said because of the uncertainty.

The Taz disagrees with the Shulchan Aruch (190:3) and writes that bedi’eved, if one drank a melo lugmav, a beracha acharona is recited, since, in his opinion, this position is the most correct. However, the Mishnah Berurah (190:14) disagrees with the Taz and sides with the Shulchan Aruch, since that is the position of most poskim.

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.