I had an experience in the Czach Republic one time that remends me of root beer! I was sitting in a pub in Pilsen with my brother-in-law, and there were a couple of prostitutes that left periodically, and withina 45 minute period, they would return, go to the bar, order a drink, then sit at a table until the next "client " approached them, and the cycle continued several times over the evening. After watching this several times, I asked the bartender what the concoction he mixed for them was. He told me in his best English,"their usual." "What is that", I asked. "Scotch and root beer," he replied. So, you see, root beer is mor widely ranging than you thought! I have never seen this dirnk sold anywhere else, probably for good reason.