Comment Re:Free NOT EQUAL TO freedom (Score 1) 367
It means free of cost, at least, initial cost. Free beer has been used as an enticement to bring people to a place or event where they are likely to pay for something that will net more benefit to the person who paid for the beer and is now giving it away. So, it does have some subtle undertone, but it basically means what "gratis" means in many languages.