Question:
Regarding the mitzvah to drink wine on yom tov – should one drink enough to be b’simcha, or is it enough to drink a reviis of even low-alcohol wine which does not bring to simcha?
Answer:
Preferably a man should drink a revi’is of wine on Yom Tov in order to be fulfill the mitzva of simcha, however he should not drink so much that he gets drunk. According to most poskim one is not yotza because grape juice is not mesameach (make one happy),, therefore it should be wine and have some alcoholic content to it. The simcha that chazal were talking about is not a drunken simcha, but either a feeling of being content, and happiness with H-shem, see M:B 559-21.If you feel that low alcohol wine doesn’t bring you to simcha, then drink regular wine.
As a side point, the poskim discuss if indeed a reviis is needed or not, however they don’t say that one has to drink more than that.
Best wishes
Sources:
Rambam Hilchos Yom Tov 6 19, 20, Mikroey Kodesh (Pesach) -2, Shvus Yitzchok – Inyonei Pesach chp. 10, in the name of R’ Elyashiv zt”l, Ashrei Hoish O:CH 3 pg 10, Ohr L’tzion 3 1-4, Be’er Moshe 7-2, Halachos Of Yom Tov Biurim1-2 in the name of R’ Moshe Feinstein zt”l,
