Different tests prove Alvaro drink non-alcoholic

Tests conducted on the East African Breweries’ soft drink, Alvaro, have indicated it is non-alcoholic.

The Department Committee on Health, Housing, Labour and Social Welfare that was investigating the matter gave EABL’s latest staple a clean bill of health after conducting tests in local and international laboratories.

David Koech (Mosop) and Rachael Shebesh (Nominated) in July and August claimed the drink contained alcohol and could be blamed for school strikes rampant at the time.

In the 72-page report tabled by Chairman Robert Monda (Nyaribari Chache), the committee concluded: "From the tests from local and public universities, the Government chemist, Kenya Bureau of Standards and M/s. Societe Generale de Surveillance (SGS) Geneva, Alvaro is a non-alcoholic drink."

The universities that carried the tests using different methods were Nairobi, Moi, Jomo Kenyatta, Catholic, Baraton and Kenya Methodists.

According to the report, the institutions were approached separately and asked to maintain confidentiality.

The Committee said test results from some secondary schools tabled by Shebesh, indicating the drink was alcoholic were not conclusive.

"The test methods used in secondary schools are not specific and similar reactions could be obtained if any sample or natural sugar is mixed with potassium dichromate to give a greenish colour. From this reaction, all non-alcoholic drinks containing reducing sugar will give a colour change of a dichromate from orange-red to green," stated the report.

Despite Industrialisation Minister Henry Kosgei tabling documents from Kenya Bureau of Standards indicating Alvaro is non-alcoholic, Shebesh argued she was not satisfied. It was under this premise that the matter was referred to the committee for further investigations.

During its sittings the committee interrogated Shebesh and EABL’s senior managers, who included James Musyoki, Managing Director, Group Supply, Agnes Acom, Head of Group Quality Assurance and Ken Kariuki, director, corporate Affairs.

In its investigations the committee purchased the pear and pineapple brands and forwarded two bottles to each of the testing institutions through the office of the Clerk.