Alcohol ice cream raises concern over drunken driving

An ice cream containing yellow rice wine in its ingredients is raising concerns over the possibility of drunken driving by consumers, reported Beijing Youth Daily.

According to the report, the ice cream is a product of the Cultural Service Center of Beijing Palace Museum, an entity that focuses on cultural products related to the Palace Museum, or Forbidden City.

The ice cream's packaging is in yellow – the color for the emperor in ancient China – with a label saying "Bestowed by His Majesty" on it.

Package instructions read "No more than 6 grams of yellow rice wine is contained in each ice cream and a driver should eat only one, then sit behind the wheel for 10 to 15 minutes after ingesting to avoid being caught in a drunken driving test." 

Some who tried it said the ice cream has a distinct alcohol flavor, according to the report. A simulated breathalyzer test for drunken driving conducted by a reporter after eating the ice cream showed an alcohol concentration of 36mg/100ml, higher than 20mg/100ml, which is the baseline for being too drunk to drive in China's traffic regulations.

But the reading turned to normal when the reporter repeated the test four minutes later, the report said.

The ice cream is made by a manufacturer in Shanghai commissioned by the Beijing Palace Museum Cultural Service Center.

A man surnamed Peng, who is in charge of the manufacturer, said the ice cream is the latest in frozen treats rolled out by the company featuring the Palace Museum theme.

Each treat sells for 15 yuan, a relatively high price, and is now sold at stores in business districts and tourist attractions.

This is not the first time the Palace Museum, the former imperial palace of the rulers of the Qing (1644-1911) and Ming (1368-1644) dynasties, rolled out innovative theme products.

A series of themed cultural souvenirs, such as calendars and watches, have won the hearts of consumers in recent years.