Alcohol Producers Turn into Sanitizer Manufacturers to Combat COVID-19

The COVID-19 outbreak has plunged the globe into disarray, forcing businesses to close, borders to shut, and making social distancing a daily routine. A lasting impact of this crisis may be the heightened emphasis on cleanliness, now a public priority. Distilleries and breweries are stepping up, leveraging their facilities to supply water and produce hand sanitizers. Curious about how spirit producers like vodka, whiskey, and beer makers have pivoted to hygiene products? Here's the breakdown.

Creating hand sanitizer is simpler than one might think; the CDC recommends a mixture containing "at least 60 percent alcohol," blended with aloe vera. Nationwide, distilleries are utilizing ethanol, a byproduct of their usual distillation process, to craft high-quality sanitizers.

The unprecedented easing of specific formula approvals was initiated by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), which authorized permitted distilleries to produce ethanol-based hand sanitizers.

Moonrise Distillery in Clayton, Georgia, was among the first two distilleries nationwide to adapt their production process for hand sanitizer, utilizing their own alcohol to aid the public and help curb the disease's spread.

"We are utilizing our high-proof botanical gin," explains Doug Nassaur, Moonrise's head distiller, via email. "This tincture incorporates locally sourced botanicals and in-house produced NGS [Natural Grain Spirits] from regional ingredients to create a premium, high-proof gin. We blend natural aloe with the gin, enhancing its botanical profile to deliver a virus-killing, skin-friendly solution. All ingredients are locally sourced, and our in-house alcohol production ensures no supply chain disruptions." By March 30, 2020, Moonrise had distributed over 3,000 bottles.

How Effective Is Hand Sanitizer?

Although hand sanitizer is not as effective as soap and water in eliminating germs, alcohol disrupts "disease-causing agents, or pathogens, by breaking down proteins, splitting cells, or interfering with cellular metabolism," as stated by the National Institutes of Health. The optimal potency is around 60 percent, though solutions with as little as 30 percent alcohol still exhibit some pathogen-killing efficacy, with alcohol's effectiveness peaking at 90-95 percent potency.

Old Fourth Distillery in Atlanta, Georgia, distributed such a large quantity of hand sanitizer to the public that they recently opted to reserve their supplies exclusively for first responders.

"Hospitals, fire departments, police, and sheriff's offices," explained Jeff Moore, co-owner of Old Fourth Distillery, during a CBS interview. "We didn’t want to halt public distribution, but prioritizing first responders was the right decision."

Breweries are also joining the effort. Atwater Brewery in Detroit is now producing and supplying a topical antiseptic sanitizer for healthcare workers and emergency personnel.

"We are providing local hospitals and first responders with supplies and have now opened sales to the public," explains owner Mark Rieth via email. "Our formula includes our own alcohol, combined with glycerol — a non-toxic, odorless liquid with antimicrobial and antiviral properties — and hydrogen peroxide, adhering to FDA guidelines." To date, Atwater has produced over 2,500 gallons [9,464 liters] of hand sanitizer and aims to bottle 40,000 units by early April.

Savage & Cooke distillery, located on Mare Island near San Francisco, halted whiskey production to concentrate on manufacturing hand sanitizer, pledging to donate 35,000 gallons (133,000 liters) of WHO-approved sanitizer to local communities and nearby cities.

"I am incredibly proud of my team at Savage & Cooke for swiftly transitioning our operations from whiskey distillation to producing WHO-approved hand sanitizer. We have paused all distillery activities to fully support our community in preventing infections. Our goal is to produce tens of thousands of gallons to maximize our impact," owner Dave Phinney stated to Fox News.

Beyond hand sanitizer, water donations are also making a difference. Molson Coors, a major beer company, donated 50,000 cans of water to Denver's Salvation Army, providing clean drinking water to the homeless and shelter residents, as reported by 9News in Denver, Colorado.

While COVID-19 represents one of the most significant challenges in recent history, the outpouring of care and unity from individuals and businesses is truly uplifting. However, it’s important to remember that hand sanitizer, while useful, is not a substitute for thorough handwashing with soap and water.