I’ve got a J.D. and two Masters and I only learned about Hard Lemonade a few years ago (that was a good day - yes I do like those girly drinks).
I can easily see the Prof not watching enough TV or pop literature (tabloid magazines) to know about this. Back when I was dept. chair at a University, I did know. Luckily my wife (freeper Tanusha) knows these things and recommended I pick them up for a BBQ we were throwing (charred animal carcases, the food of conservatives).
BTW, I miss Skyy Blue, it tasted like a grapefuit soda, much better than anything produced by Mike’s or Smirnoff.
I’m guessing, though, that had you seen a bottle of Mike’s Hard Lemonade, once you read the name, you would have surmised it had alcoholic content. If you only had one masters instead of 2, maybe not.