Friday, April 10, 2009

Adulterate & "Home Made" Beers in Malaysia


It has been quiet sometime now that these adulterate and "home made" beers hit the night spots in Selangor,perhaps other states too and some even appear in coffee shops.I first encountered these adulterate ones about two years ago in a karaoke pub.
It was like the normal evening out with friends where we were drinking in another pub where we enjoyed every pint of fresh draft beers. Then one friend decided he has the urge to sing,hence we adjourned to a karaoke pub nearby.The first jug of draft beers arrived and immediately we noticed the difference in taste. It tasted rather diluted.We did not make a fuss out of it, instead we continue drinking and change the next order to bottles instead of draft beers. It was like a mistake from one to another.The bottles came and one of us felt something "funny" about the taste, but we all joked and said that perhaps it is a different brand of beers hence the different in taste.We drank on. That evening itself, I had terrible experience in the middle of my sleep, and I woke up feeling unwell. I brush it off as perhaps I had one too many,until all five of us who had the evening together and exchanged experience,only to learned that four out of five had similiar experience.From then on I was more cautious with my drinks.As time goes by, I started to take notice of my beers and gradually blacklisted the pubs/night joints that serve "bad" beers and only drink in places where they serve fresh draft beers.

We talked among our friends and with some owners of pubs and learned that the adulterate ones are normally mixed with water.Hence after a few rounds of fresh beers one would not really notice the difference, except one frequent the toilets very much more often then before.However it is always very easy for the tainted pub operator/owner to tell their patrons that it is very normal for beer drinkers to frequent the toilet often.

I was told there was a newspaper report sometime ago in the Chinese press that the enforcement raided a huge factory somewhere in Sungei Buloh, where "home made" beers were produced. Branded brands like Carlsberg were widely used in this back yard factory.

Ironical, I have been places where they serve adulterate beers ,however there are still many patron frequenting these places. I just wonder, how come they did not notice the difference, or was it that they don't mind, as the beers are much cheaper here, or is it that simply most patron ,especially Malaysian do not care.
I have visited places like Bangkok,Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh City and Singapore and I have never experience being serve with adulterate or "home made" beers.I sincerely am against being poison or toxified for something I am paying for.

I only can hope ,especially with the new line up of Ministers,that more efficient enforcement shall be conducted more frequently and quickly before this episode hits the tourist in a big way.

1 comment:

Msian said...

Syndicates rake in millions from customers ‘toasting’ to fake liquor and beer
By LOURDES CHARLES, AUSTIN CAMOENS and RASHITHA A. HAMID
newsdesk@thestar.com.my
13OCT 2011 The Star Newspaper Headline

KUALA LUMPUR: Fake liquor is pouring into the country, with unsuspecting customers “toasting” to the adulterated spirits and thinking that they have a good deal because it is sold below market prices.

Syndicates involved in the production of low-quality or fake liquor and beer are believed to be raking in millions of ringgit as they target restaurants, pubs and karaoke lounges.The Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Ministry together with the International Federation of Spirits Producers (IFSP) have seized liquor and beer worth millions of ringgit over the years.

Malaysia is said to rank among the top five countries affected by the problem of counterfeit liquor.

The ministry says most of the fake liquor is brought in from China, Indonesia and Thailand.

Visit http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/10/13/nation/9667327&sec=nation