Distillery to produce hand sanitiser

Russell Evans, managing director of Bullards Gin, based in Norwich, told The Morning Advertiser​ he wanted his distillery to do what it could to help protect the public’s health.

He said they had already been approached by bus companies and care homes, and would supply it in bulk rather than directly to consumers.

The distillery was keen for its customer base of pubs, which includes Greene King and independent sites across East Anglia, being able to access it as well.

He estimated the first batch would be finished by the end of this week after distilling the alcohol down to around 63%, which is the World Health Organisation’s recommendation for killing bacteria. 

Evans explained: “We have plenty of gin made ready to sell, so if people want it we can supply them but we were also thinking of what else we could do. 

“We discovered that other distilleries across the country and the world had been helping with the coronavirus crisis in making sanitiser using the alcohol that we make our gin from, the ethanol."

Being useful

He added: “We can hopefully help boost the fact that there's not enough of it around at the moment. We can perhaps do some good.”

The product is being made at cost rather than at profit. Evans said: “We’re going to use this as an opportunity to do something useful for the greater world rather than profiteer.”

The distillery is currently working out how best to distribute the finished product so that people do not have to come to the distillery themselves. 

It comes as supermarkets are warning customers not to attempt to stockpile items and have imposed restrictions on buying multiple of the same products.