Aberdeenshire independent brewer, BrewDog is now making hand sanitizer due to shortages everywhere in the UK.
These will not be available for sale, instead, they will be giving the “Punk Sanitiser” to charities for distribution.
Health care officials have recommended using hand sanitizer with 60% or more of an alcohol concentration to kill off bacteria and protect against the coronavirus.
James Watt, BrewDog’s founder released a statement on social media that the company started producing the sanitizer to help with the shortages. “We are determined to do everything we can to try and help as many people as possible stay safe,” said Watt.
The company left a comment on its Facebook page:
To help with the shortages, we have just started working on making hand sanitiser at our distillery in Scotland. We are determined to do everything we can to try and help as many people as possible [to] stay safe.
It’s time to keep it clean.
They said they plan on “working around the clock on producing the first batch to have it available for next week.”
HMRC is currently prioritizing applications from manufacturers that would enable them to make denatured alcohol, which is not for human consumption and exempt from excise duty. It is produced by adding chemicals, making it undrinkable.
Leading the way has been alcohol manufacturers. The Guardian reported gin producers are also helping out. Verdant Spirits from Dundee is trying to get 400 liters of gel together and Psychopomp Microdistillery in Bristol and 58 Gin in London are currently working on products as well.
They also reported that in France, perfume manufacturers LVMH has switched over from making perfume and cosmetics to help fight the virus.
This is a great example for other breweries, distilleries, and perfume companies around the world to chip in and help out if they have access to such operations. Hospital workers and medical staff around the world require help and supplies.
