Area distillery stops liquor production, shifts to hand sanitizer

ST. PETERSBURG — Responding to the COVID-19 outbreak that has gripped the world, Kozuba & Sons Distillery has taken the bold step of ceasing all liquor production and repurposing its facility to make hand sanitizer. 

In a press release, the St. Petersburg company says the hand sanitizer will be produced using a high-quality spirit that normally would be used to make vodka. The product will be made in accordance with World Health Organization (WHO) hand sanitizer formulation recommendations. 

Only a limited supply will be available initially, the release states, because of a shortage of bottles, but the distillery plans to buy more dispensers as soon as they become available.

Kozuba & Sons has also ceased to offer tours and tastings in response to the coronavirus outbreak, but its retail shop remains open.