Halacha: Care for a Drink?

Rav Cohen

I recently attended two different bar mitzvahs where I saw a new minhag. During Kriyas hatorah the bar mitzvah boy was drinking a bottle of water in order to clear his throat and strengthen his voice. 

Being that this took place before kiddush, I wondered: Is this permitted?  

There are two issues that we need to clarify: 

1. When does the obligation of kiddush shabbos morning begin?
2. Is there a prohibition of drinking water before kiddush in the morning?

The Shulchan Aruch in Siman 289 says that there is a prohibition to eat or drink anything, including water, before a person makes kiddush in the morning. However, in Siman 286 he says that although it is prohibited to eat a meal before Mussaf, one may "taste" food before Mussaf, i.e. eat fruit or bread in an amount less then a ke-betizah.  The Mishnah Brurah explains that this allowance to "taste" food before Mussaf is only applicable to one who makes kiddush after Shacharis. The Mishna Berura's ruling is based on the opinion of the Bach and Magen Avraham that the obligation for kiddush begins after Shacharis. According to this understanding the only way for the bar mitzvah boy to drink water would be if he would make kiddush prior to Kriyas Hatorah .

There are two important opinions that could possibly be used to explain this practice of eating without first saying kiddush.  

1. The first is expressed by Rabbenu Dovid, the Meiri and the Raavad.  They are of the opinion that there is no special significance to kiddush shabbos morning and therefore there is no prohibition to eat or drink before kiddush in the morning. They claim that the cup of wine and bracha are just to make the meal more important, but that don't create an actual prohibition.
2. In addition there is the opinion of the Maharshal (and other achronim) who argue with the Magen Avraham.  According to them the obligation for kiddush only begins after Mussaf, and therefore one would be able to drink water after Shachris just like it is permitted before davening.

These two opinions are relied upon to permit a weak person to eat after Shacharis, even without kiddush, when wine is unavailable.  Similarly, Rav Ovadiah Yosef (Yabiah Omer V) permits a Ba'al Koreh who will be reading in a few shuls on shabbos morning, to drink water without kiddush.

In conclusion, the opinion of the Mishna Berura is that a a bar mitzvah boy should make kiddush first if he wants to drink water during leining.  However, there are opinions to rely upon that  allow drinking in certain cases even before making kiddush.