 Drinking on Purim is not a separate mitzvah, but is part of the mitzvah of Seudah. The source of drinking at the Seudah was the party to which Esther invited Achashveirosh and Haman, which played a pivotal role in the
miracle of Purim. Incidentally, the same party may be the source of Purim Torah and the custom of wearing costumes, because perhaps at her party, Esther had such entertainment as befits a queen. It is also possible that the custom of wearing costumes is based on the mask worn by Moshe.
There is a mitzvah to have a small Seudah on the night of Purim, although the obligation of the Seudah must be fulfilled during the day. This requires that the name–be eaten while it is still day, prior to sunset. One can then continue eating into the night and still say “Al ha-Nissim in benching.
One should not stop to pray Ma'ariv in the middle of the meal because that would be an indication that program is over and then it would be problematic to say “Al ha-Nissim.”
One must eat the meal in a way that shows that it is a significant meal, that one esteems and desires to eat. If a person estimates that in the course of the day, because he was noshing from Mishloach Manot and drinking wine, he won't have an appetite to eat later in the day, he should have his Seudah in the morning.
It was the minhag of the Rosh and Rav Moshe's father to eat an earlier meal. Some of Rav Moshe's grandchildren therefore, have a morning meal, in addition to the large Seudah at the end of the day.
If one is primarily relying upon the meal at the end of the day, then it is logical to be careful to not eat or drink too much during the day so one can have an appetite at the end of the day.
The mitzvah on Purim is to drink wine. Other alcoholic beverages have nothing to do with the mitzvah.
During the Purim meal, Rav Moshe would eat seeds and nuts as a reminder of Daniel, Chananya, Mishael, and Azariah, as well as Esther, who ate seeds in the palaces of Babylon and Persia for kashrut reasons.
One should light two candles for the meal using Shabbat candles and place them together on the table just as on Shabbat, not on opposite ends of the table. This is because Shabbat defines what is considered on honor and therefore what is done for Shabbat should be done here as well.
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