thoughts on Butterbeer

[Linda]

No: HPFGUIDX 64924




magical me wrote:

> > In GoF, can't remember which chapter, but it's the scene when HRH 
> are 
> > down in the kitchens and watch Winky drown herself in Butterbeer. 
> Ron 
> > says something along the lines that at least it is not strong and 
> > Dobby replies that it is strong for a house elf. I don't know how 
> the 
> > laws are in England, but in my country anything with a bit of 
> alcohol 
> > isn't allowed for kids under 18 (or 16 for beer I think). I know 
> the 
> > young wizards aren't allowed to drink Firewhisky, as 
> > Hermione "reminds" Ron in OotP, but could anyone tell me why 13 
> year 
> > old wizards and witches are allowed to drink Butterbeer? Maybe 
the 
> > bit of alcohol doesn't have much influence in magical people, but 
> it 
> > strikes me as somehow odd and it's been bothering me for the last 
3 
> > books.
> > magicalme (desperately waiting for some answer)

Tamera replied:

> I don't think the wizards go by typical muggle laws when it comes 
to 
> everything.  Before that mention about Winky, I always kind of 
> thought of Butterbeer as being like rootbeer.  I wonder what it 
> tastes like.  And pumpkin juice too. Don't these people ever drink 
> milk or water???  And why doesn't Hogwarts serve pizza or 
hamburgers? 
> I'm not sure I could survive the food there. ;)

Now me:
   I still think of butterbeer as being a type of soft drink. Just 
because it is intoxicating for house elves doesn't mean it has an 
alcohol content. IIRC, In Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Wonka 
remarked that the OOmpa Loompas couldn't drink his fizzy drinks 
because it made them drunk.(Or something along those lines, it's been 
a long, long time .) At any rate, it wouldn't be the first time in 
literature that a food or beverage that is perfectly innocent in 
terms of human consumption has detrimental affects on another species.


   Linda