Tsingtao beer launches investigation after man is spotted urinating into vat at factory

A popular beer brand has launched an investigation after a man was spotted urinating into a vat at the factory.

The unnamed man, dressed in a hard hat and blue overalls, was filmed climbing down into a malt container at Tsingtao's factory in Pingdu, China.

The man is then seen unzipping his trousers and urinating inside of the container believed to hold raw ingredients for the beer in the disgusting video.

Tsingtao, the second largest beer producer in China, says it has sealed all batches linked to the incident.

It said in a statement: "Our company attaches high importance to the relevant video that emerged from Tsingtao Brewery No. 3 on 19 October.

"We reported the incident to the police at the earliest opportunity, and public security organisations are involved in the investigation.

"At present, the batch of malt in question has been completely sealed. The company continues to strengthen its management procedures and ensure product quality."

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Sources close to local outlet Yicai have alleged the man filmed is not a Tsingtao employee, but instead a loader hired by a third-party labour supplier.

Despite that, the incident has damaged the sixth-largest global beer maker, as shares on the Shanghai Stock Exchange dropped by one percent on Friday (20 October), followed by a further 7.5 percent on Monday (23 October).

The video quickly went viral after it was posted on Weibo on Thursday (19 October).

As you'd probably expect, many were horrified with the video, with one user penning: "Good thing I don't drink beer - but it's unimaginable if this brand is finished because of this."

While another added: "I've always said the beer here is like horse pee. Turns out I was wrong."

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Meanwhile, a third penned: "Now that he is being filmed and posted online, has he ever had this behaviour of urinating into raw ingredients before?"

And a fourth remarked: "The problem is how to assure the public that the existing beer raw materials are not contaminated."

A lawyer, Shao Ke, told local media that he believes the incident violated local health regulations in China.

The violation could lead to a warning or up to seven years in prison.