The angel instructs Zechariah that his son John will drink neither wine nor strong drink (Luke 1:15), marking him as a Nazirite devoted to God from birth. In the Old Testament, sikera designated fermented drinks beyond grape wine—barley beer, date liquor, or other intoxicants. The prohibition signals total abstinence and consecration for special service, paralleling Samson and Samuel. This ascetic lifestyle prepared John for his prophetic ministry, living in the wilderness on locusts and wild honey. The Greek term transliterates the Hebrew שֵׁכָר, preserving its cultural and religious associations.