Just then the Buddha, together with a number of monks, was also leaving town, and he saw Sāgata at the town gate. He said, “Monks, pick up Sāgata.” Saying, “Yes, sir,” they led him to the monastery, where they put him down with his head toward the Buddha. But Sāgata turned around, pointing his feet toward the Buddha. The Buddha said, “Previously, monks, wasn’t Sāgata respectful and deferential toward me?” “Yes.” “But is he now?” “Certainly not.” “Just recently, didn’t Sāgata fight the Ambatittha dragon?” “Yes.” “Would he now be able to fight a dragon?” “Certainly not.” “So, monks, should one drink that which makes one senseless?” “Certainly not, sir.” “It’s not suitable, monks, it’s not proper for Sāgata, it’s not worthy of a monastic, it’s not allowable, it’s not to be done. How could Sāgata drink alcoholic drinks? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

Final ruling ‘If a monk drinks this or that kind of alcoholic drink, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

Definitions This kind of alcoholic drink: alcoholic drinks made from flour, alcoholic drinks made from cookies, alcoholics drink made from rice, those with yeast added, those made from a combination of ingredients. That kind of alcoholic drink: alcoholic drinks made from flowers, alcoholic drinks made from fruit, alcoholic drinks made from honey, alcoholic drinks made from sugar, those made from a combination of ingredients. Drinks: if he drinks even what fits on the tip of a blade of grass, he commits an offense entailing confession.

Permutations If it is an alcoholic drink, and he perceives it as such, and he drinks it, he commits an offense entailing confession. If it is an alcoholic drink, but he is unsure of it, and he drinks it, he commits an offense entailing confession. If it is an alcoholic drink, but he perceives it as non-alcoholic, and he drinks it, he commits an offense entailing confession. If it is a non-alcoholic drink, but he perceives it as alcoholic, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is a non-alcoholic drink, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is a non-alcoholic drink, and he perceives it as such, there is no offense.

Non-offenses There is no offense: if he drinks a non-alcoholic drink that has the color, smell, or taste of an alcoholic drink; if it is cooked in a bean curry; if it is cooked with meat; if it is cooked with oil; if it is in syrup from emblic myrobalan; if he drinks a drink that is normally alcoholic, but which is actually without alcohol; if he is insane; if he is the first offender. The training rule on drinking alcohol, the first, is finished.

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law The Great Analysis The chapter on offenses entailing confession The subchapter on drinking alcohol Tickling

Origin story