United Breweries (UB) has come under fire after traces of pollutants were allegedly found inside one of its sealed beer bottles recently.
The Mandya district consumer disputes redressal forum has slapped a fine of Rs 30,000 on the company for distributing a 330 ML UB Export Lager bottle with traces ofthe pollutants.
Mr. V.Shrinivaas Rao of VV Puram in Mandya city had approached the forum on January 25 this year seeking compensation of Rs 90,000, claiming the beer he had bought for Rs 28 at a local wine store on January 12, was unfit for drinking. Although he contacted UB consumer relation officers, they paid him no attention, he alleged.
In its reply, UB denied the allegations and claimed the consumer may have himself added traces of the pollutants to the bottle only to cheat it.
But it failed to convince the forum which directed it to pay Rs 5,000 as compensation to the consumer and deposit Rs 25,000 with its welfare fund as penalty.
Welcoming the order, consumer activist, Anil Joshi, said it was shocking that even companies like UB could be guilty of such carelessness.
“There should be strict monitoring of all bottles dispatched by beverage companies,” he said.