260. Wine or Cake Before a Meal

39:2 If someone wants to drink wine before washing for a meal, even if he will not drink wine during the meal, some authorities are of the opinion that this is still considered part of the meal and is covered by bentching (grace after meals). Other authorities disagree, however, and feel that even if one drinks wine during the meal, the wine he had before the meal is not covered by bentching. Therefore, we should avoid drinking wine before washing for a meal unless we are going to also drink a cup of wine also after bentching. In that case, when one says the concluding blessing on the wine, it can also cover the wine from before the meal. If a person wants to drink other alcoholic beverages before a meal, whether or not he will continue drinking during the course of the meal, he should be sure to drink less than an olive’s volume before the meal. (This is .96 fl. oz. – about one shot.) If one drinks more than this amount, there arises a doubt as to whether a concluding blessing must be recited.

39:3 If someone wants to eat (mezonos) cakes before washing for a meal, whether or not he will continue eating them during the course of the meal, they are covered by by bentching so long as there is not too long a break between eating the cake and the start of the meal. If there is a long break, one must recite “al hamichya” after eating the cake even if he will continue eating them during the meal.