Two Types of Cases Violating the Precept Against Intoxicants

Original Text of the Fifth Section of the Upasaka Five Precepts Sutra: The Buddha, having reproached the faults of drinking alcohol in various ways, addressed the bhikkhus: "There are two kinds of alcohol that upasakas must not drink: grain wine and vegetable wine. Vegetable wine refers to wine made from roots, stems, leaves, flowers, or fruits of plants; or made from various seeds, medicinal herbs, or mixed weeds. It possesses the color, aroma, and taste of wine, and drinking it can intoxicate a person. This is called wine. If an upasaka tastes it and swallows it, it is also considered drinking and an offense. If he drinks grain wine, it is an offense with each gulp. If he drinks vinegar wine, it is an offense with each gulp swallowed. If he drinks sweet wine, it is an offense with each gulp swallowed. If he consumes a fermentation starter that can intoxicate, it is an offense with each gulp swallowed. If he eats distiller's grains, it is an offense with each gulp swallowed. If he drinks wine sediment, it is an offense with each gulp swallowed. If he drinks something resembling the color, aroma, or taste of wine, which can intoxicate a person, it is an offense with each gulp swallowed. However, if it merely has the color of wine but lacks the aroma and taste of wine, cannot intoxicate people, and has no other effects, then drinking or consuming it is not an offense."

Explanation: After the Buddha reproached the faults of drinking alcohol using various words, he told the bhikkhus: "There are two kinds of alcohol that upasakas cannot drink: one is wine brewed from grains, the other is vegetable wine. Vegetable wine refers to wine made from the roots, stems, leaves, flowers, or fruits of vegetation; or made from seeds, various medicines, and mixed weeds. It has the color, aroma, and taste of wine, and drinking it can intoxicate a person; this is called wine. If an upasaka tastes it and swallows it into the esophagus, he commits the offense of drinking alcohol. If he drinks grain wine, swallowing it down the throat is an offense. If he drinks vinegar wine, swallowing it down the throat with each gulp is an offense. If he drinks sweet wine, swallowing it down the throat with each gulp is an offense. If he consumes a fermentation starter (the raw material for brewing) that can intoxicate, swallowing it down the throat with each gulp is an offense. If he consumes distiller's grains, swallowing it down the throat with each gulp is an offense. If he drinks wine sediment, swallowing it down the throat with each gulp is an offense. If he drinks something resembling the color, aroma, or taste of wine, which can intoxicate a person, swallowing it down the throat with each gulp is an offense. However, if it only has the color of wine but lacks the aroma and taste of wine, cannot intoxicate people, and has no other side effects, then drinking or consuming it is not an offense."