Why is ginger beer called if it contains no alcohol?

The term "beer" in ginger beer refers to the brewing process and not the presence of alcohol. Ginger beer is made by fermenting a mixture of ginger, water, sugar, and yeast, similar to how traditional alcoholic beers are made. However, the fermentation process in ginger beer is controlled to prevent the conversion of all sugars into alcohol, resulting in a non-alcoholic beverage.

Traditionally, ginger beer was often brewed with a low alcohol content, but over time, many commercial ginger beer producers have shifted to producing it as a non-alcoholic beverage to cater to a wider audience and comply with regulations in certain regions.

Additionally, the term "beer" has been historically used to describe a variety of fermented beverages, including those that do not contain alcohol, such as root beer, birch beer, and sassafras beer. Hence, the name "ginger beer" has persisted despite its non-alcoholic nature.