Customers bought gin way above their alcohol tolerance


GinSanitiser cover
Images adapted from: Tripadvisor and Apollo Bay Distillery

While people wait for a vaccine, some untrue theories are floating around on ways to cure the virus sooner. A couple of myths include being immune from getting drunk or that drinking bleach will kill the virus.

From 5th to 7th June, an Australian distillery accidentally sold bottles of hand sanitisers mislabeled as gin.


They didn’t shrink-wrap the bottles 


GinSanitiser brewery
Image credit: Tripadvisor

Australia-based Apollo Bay Distillery sold their “SS Casino Dry Gin” at the Great Ocean Brewhouse in Victoria state. For better or for worse, the brewery sold only nine bottles of gin during that weekend.

However, the bottles did not contain gin as expected.


The “gin” contained two dangerous ingredients


GinSanitiser fb
Source: Apollo Bay Distillery

A report from Food Standards Australia New Zealand pointed out that the “gin” contained glycerol and hydrogen peroxide, both used to make hand sanitisers.

GinSanitiser handrub
Image credit: Apollo Bay Distillery

This mix-up was a result of the company formerly making hand sanitisers in response to the pandemic, reported The New Daily.

According to a company spokesman, only one woman felt nauseous from drinking the hand sanitiser, but there were otherwise no fatal incidents.

While it is safe (but ineffective) to use liquor as an emergency disinfectant, the logic does not work in reverse. Drinking hand sanitiser ingredients will give you side effects, including “nausea, headaches, dizziness, bloating, vomiting, thirst, and diarrhoea.”GinSanitiser gin
Image credit: Apollo Bay Distillery

The distillery is currently recalling the mislabeled bottles. Customers can ask to replace their bottle of hand sanitiser with actual gin or get a refund.


Drink responsibly


There were alcohol bans throughout the early phases of lockdown, and some rejoiced when they could drink again.

Still, keep in mind that the alcohol bans were to curb incidents under the influence. So always remember to drink in moderation. And next time, check your drink before raising a glass to happy hour. Cheers!


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