Sanitizers get priority over South Korea's soju drink in virus crisis
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Splash
    • Videos
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Wednesday
June 29, 2022

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Splash
    • Videos
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2022
Sanitizers get priority over South Korea's soju drink in virus crisis

Coronavirus chronicle

Reuters
04 March, 2020, 04:25 pm
Last modified: 04 March, 2020, 04:26 pm

Related News

  • S Korea approves first domestically developed Covid vaccine
  • Cooperation by US and allies a step toward 'Asian NATO': N Korea media
  • Inflation in S Korea to exceed 6% as early as June: Minister
  • Yellen to visit South Korea, discuss sanctions on North
  • S Korea to provide $1 mln in humanitarian aid to earthquake-hit Afghanistan

Sanitizers get priority over South Korea's soju drink in virus crisis

To banish the virus, the company has pledged to donate 32 tonnes of ethanol for use in disinfecting buildings and public places in Busan and southeastern Daegu

Reuters
04 March, 2020, 04:25 pm
Last modified: 04 March, 2020, 04:26 pm
Vehicles carrying ethanol which is originally an ingredient for South Korean liquor Soju and will be used as a disinfectant arrive in Daegu, South Korea, March 2, 2020. Daesun Distilling/Handout via REUTERS
Vehicles carrying ethanol which is originally an ingredient for South Korean liquor Soju and will be used as a disinfectant arrive in Daegu, South Korea, March 2, 2020. Daesun Distilling/Handout via REUTERS

Makers of soju, South Korea's national drink and one of the world's best selling spirits, are jumping into the fight on the largest outbreak of coronavirus outside China by sharing their stockpiles of alcohol with makers of sanitizers.

Disinfectants, such as hand sanitizers, are flying off the shelves, along with medical-grade masks, as infections in South Korea have surged past 5,000 in just over a month since its first patient was diagnosed.

South Korean soju makers have responded to soaring ethanol demand for sanitizers by donating the alcohol that goes into the drink, a distilled spirit with 17 percent to 20 percent alcohol by volume traditionally based on rice, but now often wheat or potatoes.

"Ethanol demand for disinfection has grown while supply is limited...we have decided to provide it," an official of Daesun Distilling, based in the southeastern city of Busan, told Reuters.

To banish the virus, the company has pledged to donate 32 tonnes of ethanol for use in disinfecting buildings and public places in Busan and southeastern Daegu, the city at the center of South Korea's outbreak.

"We plan to keep donating until the coronavirus outbreak is stabilized and to donate 50 tonnes more," added the official, who sought anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to media.

South Koreans drink an average of about 12 shots of soju each week, media say, citing industry figures. Ethanol for alcoholic drinks can be produced by fermentation or distillation, typically from grains and plants.

The chemical can also be made from petrochemical feedstock.

Whether used for liquor or disinfection, both have the same chemical structure and can break apart the virus particle, said Lee Duckhwan, a chemistry professor at Sogang University in Seoul, the capital.

"If there's any difference, that is the liquor tax imposed on ethanol produced by liquor makers," Lee said.

The virus fears boosted February sales of soaps and hand sanitizers, including those with an alcohol base, to four times the level a year ago, data from a major retailer Lotte Mart shows. Shares of ethanol producers also jumped.

Following Daesun Distilling, Hallasan Soju, based on the resort island of Jeju, also provided 5 tonnes of ethanol to authorities on Tuesday, a company official said.

World+Biz / South Asia

south korea

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • A view of Gulshan area in Dhaka. Photo: Wikimedia
    Dhaka again ranks most expensive city for foreign employees in South Asia: Survey
  • Apparel exports see 50% growth in  June amid high inflation in EU, USA
    Apparel exports see 50% growth in June amid high inflation in EU, USA
  • Children above 5 years to receive Covid jabs from July
    Children above 5 years to receive Covid jabs from July

MOST VIEWED

  • A woman holds a small bottle labelled with a "Coronavirus COVID-19 Vaccine" sticker and a medical syringe in this illustration taken October 30, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/File Photo
    S Korea approves first domestically developed Covid vaccine
  • Photo: Collected
    US medical experts call for Omicron-specific Covid boosters
  • David E Adler. Sketch: TBS
    Who managed Covid-19 best, and why?
  • People line up at a nucleic acid testing station, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Beijing, China, June 16, 2022. REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo
    China slashes Covid quarantine time for international travellers
  • Covid-19 deaths were reported from Gorakhpur, Jalaun, Bulandshahr, Kannauj, Sonbhadra, Gonda, Bhadohi, Basti, Kushinagar and Mau (HT Photo)
    India sees 45% jump in a day with 17,073 new Covid cases
  • A healthcare worker collects the nasal sample of a policeman for Covid testing in Jammu on Wednesday. (ANI Photo)
    India’s daily Covid tally declines with 15,940 cases, 20 new deaths added

Related News

  • S Korea approves first domestically developed Covid vaccine
  • Cooperation by US and allies a step toward 'Asian NATO': N Korea media
  • Inflation in S Korea to exceed 6% as early as June: Minister
  • Yellen to visit South Korea, discuss sanctions on North
  • S Korea to provide $1 mln in humanitarian aid to earthquake-hit Afghanistan

Features

Mahathir accused financial titans of seeking to reverse decades of economic development that propelled tens of millions into the middle class. Photo: Bloomberg

George Soros, Mahathir and the legacy of 1997

2h | Panorama
 If Bangladesh produces and exports high-value-added MMF products right now, we can increase our total export by around 25% in value. Photo: Mumit M

Time ripe for Bangladesh RMG sector to focus more on man-made fibres

5h | Panorama
Human Library Bangladesh has organised so far nine sessions; eight have been held in different parts of Dhaka and one in Khulna. Photo: Courtesy

Human Library Bangladesh: Where the halls come alive with human voices

7h | Panorama
Abortion is a part of healthcare. Photo: Bloomberg

Abortion is healthcare and women’s rights are human rights

1d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Ferry terminals wears deserted look, traders fear losses

Ferry terminals wears deserted look, traders fear losses

26m | Videos
Top 10: World’s longest bridges

Top 10: World’s longest bridges

41m | Videos
Archeological artefacts getting ruined locked in store room

Archeological artefacts getting ruined locked in store room

5h | Videos
Photo: TBS

WB to give Bangladesh $18b IDA loans in next 5yrs

7h | Videos

Most Read

1
Padma Bridge from satellite. Photo: Screengrab
Bangladesh

Padma Bridge from satellite 

2
Photo: TBS
Bangladesh

Motorcycles banned on Padma Bridge 

3
Japan cancels financing Matarbari coal project phase 2
Bangladesh

Japan cancels financing Matarbari coal project phase 2

4
Photo: Courtesy
Corporates

Gree AC being used in all parts of Padma Bridge project

5
Photo: TBS
Infrastructure

Gains from Padma Bridge to cross $10b, hope experts

6
Desco wanted to make a bold statement with their new head office building, a physical entity that would be a corporate icon. Photo: Courtesy
Habitat

Desco head office: When commitment to community and environment inspires architecture

EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2022
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab
BENEATH THE SURFACE
An aerial view of a MRT Line-6 construction site. Work on the first elevated metro rail of Bangladesh is going on in full swing. A total of 16 elevated stations will connect the capital’s Uttara to Motijheel via Mirpur, Farmgate and Dhaka University. The photo was taken from Farmgate area recently. Photo: Rajib Dhar

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net