In March, bars throughout the state were ordered to close by Florida's Governor DeSantis, making drinking at bars and restaurants a thing of the past. However, local breweries have found ways to stay afloat by offering favorite local beers to-go. Byron Burroughs, the founder of Tallahassee's Proof Brewing Company, says he’s even added a new addition to the menu.
“We’re making hand sanitizer as well, we begin this week if everything comes in, we’ll ideally begin making it on Thursday," Burroughs said.
That time has come, and the hand sanitizer is available now. Burroughs adds that the sanitizer is not for sale but they will instead be giving away 3-ounce bottles with every to-go purchase. Ology Brewing is also using their distillery equipment to make hand sanitizer. The owner, Nick Walker, said with coronavirus causing a shortage in hand sanitizer they decided to make it.
“Our goal is to produce it so we’re not just taking supply from somewhere else, we’re actually upping the supply in the nation and our total region," Walker said.
Walker said he was able to give out the first batch for free to those in need.
"We don’t know what it looks like going forward. It’s not a cheap product to make, probably can’t make it free all the time, but with the first batch just wanted to do that kind of a first response - and we’re going to figure out what the future holds," Walker said.
Walker gave the first batch to customers, Red Cross, and first responders. Proof Brewing Company is also crafting sanitizer for customers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released their recommendation for how hand sanitizer should be made after shortages and price gouging of hand sanitizer and other cleaning supplies started to occur.
