CHENNAI:Questioning the quality of alcohol being sold through the government-run retail outlets, an activists outfit on Friday released the test report of one of the popular liquor brands that showed excess quantity of ethyl alcohol and sediments. The testing was done at one of the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories.
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 percentage higher than the stipulated requirement of 42.86 pc, he said.
“It also had sediments in it which could be injurious to health,” said Armugam, quoting the Indian Standard of Alcoholic Drinks specifications for brandy.
The specifications state that brandies shall be free from sediments, suspended matter and any ingredients injurious to health.
Meanwhile, when the issue was brought to their notice TASMAC officials immediately swung into action. “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.
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.
Alleging how the Kings Institute rejected the plea of the activists from his Iyakkam to test the sample of brandy, Armugam said that it was the duty of any institute to test the samples as sought by the consumer.