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noun Near beer n. Any of various malt liquors (see Citation below). "Near beer is a term of common currency used to designate all that class of malt liquors which contain so little alcohol (usually less than ½ per cent) that they will not produce intoxication, though drunk to excess, and includes in its meaning all malt liquors which are not within the purview of the general prohibition law."
Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48
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