GIF showing an emperor holding ice creams. /Photo via Weibo
Summer is almost over, but a new brand of ice cream is drawing heat over its potential risk. The frozen treat is infused with yellow rice wine, triggering concerns over whether it could lead to drunk driving, Beijing Youth Daily newspaper has reported.
The ice cream is manufactured under a license by the Cultural Service Center of the Beijing Palace Museum, a commercial entity dedicated to the sale of the museum's cultural products, and can be found in stores around the city.
The frozen treat has a yellow packaging, a nod to the imperial color in ancient China, and a label that reads "Bestowed by His Majesty".
The package comes with a warning to drivers: "No more than six 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."
According to media reports, people who tried the treat said it had a distinct alcohol flavor.
In order to find out whether the blood's alcohol concentration after eating the ice cream would be detected by a breathalyzer, a reporter conducted a test at a traffic police office.
After consuming the ice cream, the tester showed an alcohol concentration of 36mg/100ml, much higher than 20mg/100ml, which is the safety limit for drivers under China's traffic laws.
However, the reading turned to normal when the reporter took the test four minutes later.
Police said if drivers consume alcohol-containing food and object the findings of the breathalyzer, they can take a blood test, which yields more accurate results.
A man identified by his surname Peng, who is involved with the manufacturing of the ice cream, told the Beijing Youth Daily that 50 grams of the yellow rice wine can make 100 ice pops, noting that it is a completely safe prescription for drivers.
Yellow rice wine is the Chinese liquor that best represents the autumn season. It is also one of the most versatile drinks, complementing different dishes, both in kitchen and at the table.
The liquor-infused ice cream is selling at a comparatively high price of 15 yuan (about two US dollars).
The Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, began its creative endeavor in 2007 when it produced souvenirs for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Over the next 10 years, the museum revealed nearly 10,000 creative cultural items.
(With input from China Daily)
