Harry Potter books: Is butterbeer alcoholic?

[Indyellen]

@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 – 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.