A little bit of almost anything doesn't seem to hurt ferrets.  But
allowing them to drink a lot of beer will definitely hurt them
in the long run, even if it doesn't kill them outright.  I'm curious
as to how a ferret could punch a hole in a beer can, though.
Maybe you should just keep bottles of it, since they are much
less likely to be able to chew through glass. :-)  Mine have
had tastes of wine coolers, though, and it doesn't hurt them.
They often try to steal the caps from the bottles to lick them.
I've heard it said that most ferrets are alcoholics if you let them
be.  An occasional taste of it as a treat won't do much, but don't
let them have a lot.
 
I like to control it for them completely, so I just dip my finger in
my drink and let them lick it off as an occasional treat.  And since
I only drink occasionally anyway, it just makes it a special family
time. :-)
 
E.S., Hershey and Nestle'  (from NY  :-)
 
[Posted in FML issue 0746]