How much alcohol—if any, at all—is in this magical drink served to witches and wizards, young and old, in the Harry Potter series?
I’ll start off today’s topic by acknowledging that the Butterbeer served at Universal’s The Wizarding World of Harry Potter does NOT have any alcohol in it.
Whether you order it hot, cold, or frozen (all of which you can do, by the way), it will be completely devoid of any alcohol. Presumably, this is so that children of all ages who are visiting the park can participate in the enjoyment of this famous magical drink.
As for the books, we’re first introduced to the idea of this delicious-sounding beverage in The Prisoner of Azkaban, when Harry Potter and his friends first venture to the wizarding village of Hogsmeade.
For the purposes of this article, it’s the latter Butterbeer, the one depicted within the novels and films, that we’ll be focusing on. Read on to learn more!
Your Every Question About Butterbeer: ANSWERED
What is Butterbeer?
Butterbeer is a common drink in the wizarding world that’s “a little bit like less-sickly butterscotch” but in beverage form.
Where do you get Butterbeer from?
From what we know, Butterbeer is served in various bar-like establishment within the wizarding world, such as:
- The Three Broomsticks
- Hog’s Head
- The Leaky Cauldron
How is Butterbeer served?
Typically, Butterbeer is served in foaming hot mugs or in cold bottles.
How much does Butterbeer cost?
At the Hog’s Head, customers pay two silver Sickles for a Butterbeer, which is about £0.60. It’s unclear whether this is the standard rate for the drink, or just the Hog’s Head price.
It’s also up for debate whether or not the price differs depending on if you order the drink hot or cold.
Does Butterbeer have ALCOHOL in it?
It’s widely believed that Butterbeer is alcoholic—but only slightly, since witches and wizards of all ages consume the beverage. This includes students visiting Hogsmeade from Hogwarts, who—throughout the Harry Potter series—often buy the drink while in town.
Although the alcohol content of Butterbeer is never explicitly stated, we’re certainly led to believe that there’s some sort of substance in it. For example, in The Half-blood Prince, there’s a quote that suggests that witches and wizards may experience affects from drinking it…
“Harry supposed he would just have to wait to see what happened under the influence of Butterbeer in Slughorn’s dimly lit room on the night of the party.”
Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince
Another piece of evidence supporting that there’s possibly alcohol in Butterbeer is the following interaction between Harry and Dobby in The Goblet of Fire:
“Winky is getting through six bottles a day now,” Dobby whispered to Harry.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
“Well, it’s not strong, that stuff,” Harry said.
But Dobby shook his head. “‘Tis strong for a house-elf, sir,” he said.
So, clearly, there’s something in Butterbeer. That said, it’s possible that whatever it is is not alcohol at all—but something else entirely.
It could be that Butterbeer is made with a substance that’s more magical in SPIRIT than alcohol. (See what I did there?) What exactly that may be is anyone’s guess!
If Butterbeer IS indeed alcoholic, I’d wager it’s in the realm of non-alcoholic beer at 0.5% or so. What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comment below!