Chinese brewer Tsingtao has announced that a worker who was caught on video urinating into a malt container has been detained by security authorities.
The incident, which went viral on Chinese social media last week, showed a man dressed in a hard hat and blue overalls climbing into a malt container at the beer factory in Pingdu, unzipping his trousers, and relieving himself.
In response to the incident, Tsingtao has implemented various measures to enhance monitoring of employee behavior and prevent similar incidents in the future.
The company, which is the sixth-largest global beer maker, has also sealed all batches connected to the incident.
According to a source from local outlet Yicai, the individual captured in the video was not a Tsingtao employee but a loader hired by a third-party labor supplier.
The incident has had a negative impact on Tsingtao’s stock, with shares dropping 7.5% on the Shanghai Stock Exchange on 23 October.
Last week, Tsingtao stated, “Our company takes this incident at Tsingtao Brewery No. 3 on 19 October very seriously. We immediately reported it to the police, and the investigation involves public security organizations.
“The malt batch in question has been completely sealed, and we are continuing to strengthen our management procedures to ensure product quality.”