It is unclear what prompted the Government's decision to issue the warning and whether health officials actually encountered a case where someone would have taken a sip of hand sanitizers in place of their usual cocktail.

"Do not drink or taste hand sanitizers in place of alcoholic beverages. This can result in poising or death," stated a warning issued today, September 21 by the Joint Information Cell - Health Emergency Operations Centre.

Sanitizers are in high demand across the globe, prompting some rum and gin companies to shift manufacturing from spirits to alcohol-based hand sanitizers and disinfectants to minimize transmission of COVID-19. Many of the manufacturers have packed hand sanitizers in bottles that usually carry rum, but with a label warning against ingesting the contents.

Doctors have long cautioned against injecting and drinking sanitizers and disinfectants to treat COVID-19. Health officials were particular vocal after U.S. President Donald Trump had suggested injesting the cleaning agents as a form to beat the virus.