Primarily because root beer and ginger beer really are beers. They're supposed to be mildly alcoholic, usually
about 3-5%. Modern soft drinks aren't really the same things, just flavored syrup with similar herbs in the mix. Butterbeer...I've never *heard* of
outside Harry Potter, but I'll bet it's the equivalent of butterscotch, which also was at one time alcoholic.
When you work the RenFaire circuit for twenty years, you learn a few things.
about 3-5%. Modern soft drinks aren't really the same things, just flavored syrup with similar herbs in the mix. Butterbeer...I've never *heard* of
outside Harry Potter, but I'll bet it's the equivalent of butterscotch, which also was at one time alcoholic.
When you work the RenFaire circuit for twenty years, you learn a few things.