The alcohol is necessary as a preservative and there is not much in there. It's also very pure, unlike alcohol used in cooking. Only 5 drops of remedy is used at a time MAX. It can also be applied topically (bubs head).
Hmm.. but ethanol is ethanol, and interestingly rescue remedy is preserved in brandy.

Ingredients of rescue remedy is 27% alcohol... even if it's just a few drops in the mouth... i dunno.. bit like dipping the dummy in brandy LOL.

I still wouldn't do it with a 4mth old tho. But if you've got the one for kids which is alcohol free.. then all this talk about alcohol doesn't really count for anything! LOL