Excess ethyl alcohol, sediments present in Tasmac brandy

Chennai:

Tasmac officials immediately swung into action after activists
questioned the quality of alcohol being sold to consumers after a
sample of brandy tested by one of the National Accreditation Board for
Testing and Calibration Laboratories stated that it had high quality
of ethyl alcohol and sediments.



Senthil Armugam, general secretary of Satta Panchayat Iyakkam told
Express that the sample of Day and Night brand of brandy brought from
a shop near T Nagar bus stand had 46 per cent of ethyl alcohol content
as tested by Chennai Testing Laboratory Private Limited. This is three
per cent high than the stipulated requirement of 42.86 pc, he said.



“Not only that, it also had sediments in it which could be injurious
to health,” said Armugam while quoting the Indian Standard of
Alcoholic Drinks (brandy) specifications.



The specifications state that brandies shall be free from sediments,
suspended matter and any ingredients injurious to health.



Meanwhile, Tasmac officials immediately swung to action when the issue
was brought to their light. “We will send the samples to forensic lab
and then confirm the result. Following this we will take immediate
action,” the official said.



He said the test is likely to be conducted on Monday.



Interestingly, Satta Panchayat Iyakkam has been opposing the sale of
alcohol in the state. Armugam says that the sale of alcohol has gone
up in the state from 3,639 crore in 2003 to 29, 672 crore in 2015.



Highlighting, how the Kings Institute rejected the plea of the
activists from his Iyakkam to test the sample of brandy Armugam said
that it is a duty of any institute to test the samples as sought by
the consumer.



Interestingly, 28 states, including Tamil Nadu, has set a parameters
of 42.86 per cent of ethyl alcohol conrtent in alcoholic drinks.