thoughts on Butterbeer

[nb100uk]

No: HPFGUIDX 64934

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Linda" <linlou43 at y...> wrote:
> 
> 
> 
> 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

I've always though of Butterbeer as very much like shandy.  This is a 
v. English concept of a half-beer, half-lemonade drink.  Kids over 
here can buy cans of shandy (i.e. there's very little alcohol content 
there) from any shop, and I have to say I'm rather partial to one on 
a hot summers day (just thinking about it makes me want one!!).

The idea that it has no detrimental effect on humans, but wee elves 
can get tipsy, fits in with the concept of shandy.

-nina baker