Taiwan’s Yilan Distillery to produce rubbing alcohol to stop coronavirus

The Taiwan Tobacco & Liquor Corporation (TTL), the largest manufacturer and distributor of cigarettes and alcohol in Taiwan, has said it will temporarily halt the production line at the Yilan Distillery and start to manufacture rubbing alcohol instead to help counter Covid-19.

The coronavirus concern has driven skyrocketing sales for hygiene and healthcare products around Asia. First, it was the face mask craze, and the list for panic-buying even extended to toilet roll. Known as an effective sterilising agent, rubbing alcohol has seen shortages as a result of the outbreak.

In Taiwan, TTL has announced plans to start producing rubbing alcohol.

Longtian distillery in Tainan was TTL’s first distillery to help in producing rubbing alcohol. However, with high demand persisting, it has also been decided to use the Yilan Distillery as well.

Founded in 1909, Yilan Distillery, located in the northeast of the state, is Taiwan’s oldest and the only producer of the county’s indigenous Monascus-fermented ‘red dew wine’. In spite having a history dating back over 110 years, the signature brand only sells 240,000 bottles a month.

At the beginning of February, the distillery began producing rubbing alcohol in small batches. It was reported that each batch, comprising 1,080 bottles, sold out in an hour.

The estimated production for each day is 42,000 bottles. TTL will centralise the products for state distribution.