Drinking in the Mourner's House in the Bavli

The Sages taught a similar baraita:

At first, they would serve wine in the mourner's house; the wealthy in white glass, and the poor in colored glass. And the poor were embarrassed.

The Sages instituted that all should serve drinks in colored glass, due to the honor of the poor.

Furthermore, at first they would uncover the faces of the wealthy who passed away and cover the faces of the poor, because their faces were blackened by famine. And the poor were embarrassed.

The Sages instituted that everyone’s face should be covered, due to the honor of the poor.

At first, the wealthy would take the deceased out for burial on a dargash, and the poor would take the deceased out

on a plain bier made from poles that were strapped together, and the poor were embarrassed.

The Sages instituted that everyone should be taken out for burial on a plain bier, due to the honor of the poor. Similarly, at first they would place incense under the beds of those who died with an intestinal disease. And those who were alive with an intestinal disease were embarrassed.

The Sages instituted that incense should be placed under everyone, due to the honor of those with an intestinal disease who were still living.

At first, they would immerse all the utensils by women who died while menstruating. And due to this, the living menstruating women were embarrassed.

The Sages instituted that the utensils that had been used by all dying women must be immersed, due to the honor of living menstruating women.

At first, they would ritually immerse all the utensils that had been used by zavin, who died. And the living zavin felt embarrassed.

The Sages instituted that the utensils that had been used by all men must be immersed, due to the honor of the living zavin.

At first, taking the dead out for burial was more difficult for the relatives than the actual death. The problem grew to the point that relatives would sometimes abandon the corpse and run away.

This lasted until Rabban Gamliel came and acted with frivolity, taken out for burial in linen garments. And the people adopted this practice after him and had themselves taken out for burial in linen garments.

Ulla said, and some say that it was taught in a baraita: The Sages instituted ten cups of wine to be drunk in the house of the mourner: Three cups prior to the meal, in order to open his intestines, i.e., whet his appetite; three during the meal, to soak the food in his intestines in order to facilitate digestion; and four cups after the meal, each corresponding to a blessing in the Grace after Meals. One corresponds to the first blessing: Who feeds all; one corresponds to the second blessing, the blessing of the land; one corresponding to the third blessing: Who builds Jerusalem; and one corresponding to the fourth blessing: Who is good and does good. Later, the Sages added to those four additional blessings: One, noting the actions of the attendants of the city [ḥazzanei ha’ir], who tend to burials and other communal needs; one, noting the actions of the leaders of the city, who would provide funding for the burial of the poor; one, noting the Temple, commemorating its destruction; and one, noting the actions of Rabban Gamliel. The people began observing this ordinance instituted by the Sages, and they would drink and become intoxicated. Therefore, the Sages restored the matter to its previous status and established that they drink no more than ten cups.

It was taught: They drink ten cups [of wine] in a house of mourning ― two before the meal, and five during the meal, and three after the meal.
Regarding these three after the meal ― over the first [they recite] the blessings following the meal, over the second [they recite a blessing concerning the] acts of loving kindness [of those who came to console the mourners], and over the third [they recite a blessing] to console the mourners themselves.
When Rabban Gamaliel died they added another three [cups] ― one for the Hazzan [sexton] of the Congregation, one for the Head of the Congregation, and one for Rabban Gamaliel.
And when the court saw that people were getting drunk [on account of the extra three cups], they issued a decree forbidding [people to drink] these cups, and [the custom] reverted to its previous state [i.e. ten cups].