Butterbeer, was Re: Food&Drink, Topic Summary and Questions

[Joywitch M. Curmudgeon]

No: HPFGUIDX 28135

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Kanna Ophelia <cleffa at s...> wrote:
> Original message from: "Joywitch M. Curmudgeon" 
> 
> As for alcohol, it seems to me there is 
> >plenty of it.  There are a number of scenes where adults are 
drinking
> >alcohol, and even the students are allowed to drink butterbeer
> 
> Fiorgive me if this has already been hashed out, but I always 
assumed
> butterbeer was just a more exotic and delicious variety of 
gingerbeer,
> perhaps a reference to Diana Wynne Jones' butter pies. Is there any
> reason to assume it's alcoholic, especially as Harry is given it by 
a
> well-disposed teacher? 

Well, it's alcoholic enough for house-elves to become drunks if they 
imbibe too much.  From GoF, chapter 28:

Winky was sitting on the same stool as last time, but she had allowed 
herself to become so filthy that she was not immediately 
distinguishable from the smoke-blackened brick behind her.  Her 
clothes were ragged and unwashed.  She was clutching a bottle of 
butterbeer and swaying slightly on her stool, staring into the fire.  
As they watched her, she gave an enormous hiccup.

"Winky is getting through six bottles a day now," Dobby whispered to 
Harry.

"Well, it's not strong, that stuff," Harry said.

But Dobby shook his head.  " 'Tis strong for a house-elf, sir," he 
said.

--Joywitch