# Harry Potter books: Is butterbeer alcoholic?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-books-is-butterbeer-alcoholic/315727>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [August 5, 2005, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-books-is-butterbeer-alcoholic/315727 "2005-08-05T16:10:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2005, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-books-is-butterbeer-alcoholic/315727/21 "2005-08-06T20:59:46Z")

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> [@WotNot](#):
>
> It is a common drink in Britain (and a popular choice for illicit underage drinkers), but the alcohol content is similar to a strong beer – which seems too strong for butterbeer, in the context of the books.
> 
> I’ve been imagining the alcohol in butterbeer to be more like the level of a commercial shandy, like [Bass shandy](http://www.britishdelights.com/detail.asp?product_id=DR92) – about 0.5% by volume. Not enough to give even a small child a buzz, but possibly more powerful to a house elf.

OK, thanks! 🙂 I’m used to the weak US version of hard cider, which has about 0.5% by volume. So I had the right idea, I suppose, just the wrong frame of reference.

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