Mainlanders intending to celebrate the New Year with spirits or wine should think twice - or at least check what they are drinking.
A General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine survey found only 82.9 per cent of Chinese liquor, or rice wine, met the safety standard, Xinhua reported yesterday.
Liquor from 117 makers in 20 provinces was tested, of which only 97 products met the government's safety and quality standards.
When tested for lead, methanol and fusel oil content, liquor produced by big manufacturers generally met the standard - 97.1 per cent of them passed the test.
But only 71.2 per cent of the liquor produced by small firms met the standard.
In many brands, the content of alcohol and ethyl acetate was below the required percentage, affecting the character of the liquor.