#144 May We Make Havdalah on Coffee or Tea?
The preferred beverage for kiddush and havdalah, or other such mitzvos, is wine. In fact, according to a number of poskim, only wine (or grape juice) may be used for some or all of these mitzvos. Nonetheless, according to halachah, chamar medina, a local beverage which is considered important enough to be served socially instead of wine, is also acceptable when necessary. Therefore, in a place where wine is not available, chamar medina may be used as a substitute for wine. In cases of great need, or people who are not well and cannot drink wine, even if wine is available, may make kiddush and havdalah on coffee or tea, which in our times would be considered chamar medina.