SINO-BRITISH relations are about to plummet to new depths . . .
The mainland's top beer is being investigated by British customs officers who claim the makers of Tsingtao have evaded excise duty by understating its alcohol content.
Samples of Tsingtao, the biggest-selling Chinese beer in Britain, were sent to the Government Chemist for analysis.
The laboratory established the beer was 15 per cent stronger than claimed by the Tsingtao Brewery.
The brewery stated the beer's alcohol content was 4.5 per cent. The true content was found to be 5.23 per cent.
A spokesman for the Customs and Excise Department confirmed last week the Government Chemist was still carrying out tests on the beer, but refused to comment further, on the grounds it was 'a matter of confidentiality'.