Why is it a nonalcoholic beer? Shouldn’t it be nonalcohol beer?

  • Non - is not

    Alcoholic - containing alcohol

    Nonalcoholic - is not containing alcohol.

    You don't call it an alcohol because it contains other stuff in it than just the alcohol. It's alcoholic. But not pure alcohol. Grammatically speaking

  • “Alcoholic” can mean both “a person addicted to alcohol” as well as “a beverage containing alcohol.”

  • I wonder if there’s any nonalcoholic alcoholics out there

    Pretty much every alcoholic that's gotten sober. You never stop being an alcoholic. The day you think you're 'cured ' is the day you start drinking again.

    Source: a sober alcoholic.

    I believe we call ourselves dry drunks.

  • good question. maybe it’s just a convention (?) to be able to say it in one word? “nonalcoholic” as opposed to “no alcohol” or “contains no alcohol.” i feel like “nonalcohol” sounds wrong. it could also be bc alcohol is a noun, but using it w “non-“ makes it.. not a noun… 😅 so it’s said a diff way

  • Who gives a damn. The stuff shouldn't exist anyway.