Tito's Is Warning People Not To Use Their Vodka As Hand Sanitizer

As much as Tito’s is good for, hand sanitizer isn’t one of them

As many good uses as there are for buying a handle of Tito’s Vodka, the company would like to remind those who are unable to find hand sanitizer that, unfortunately, its vodka is not a suitable substitute.

As panic over COVID-19 spreads and more and more cases are popping up all over the world, stores are running out of everything from bottled water to bleach to hand sanitizer. When there’s a shortage, people are left to their own devices and, naturally, that involves everyone’s favorite vodka, Tito’s.

There have been recipes of sorts making their way around the internet telling people how to make their own sanitizer out of isopropyl alcohol, aloe vera gel, and even some essential oils tossed in for good measure, because where would we be without essential oils?

The Verge also noted you could swap out isopropyl alcohol with vodka, as long as it’s 180 proof or higher. And that’s when Tito’s fans came out in droves, so much so, that the company had to issue a public statement against it. “Per the CDC, hand sanitizer needs to contain at least 60% alcohol. Tito’s Handmade Vodka is 40% alcohol, and therefore does not meet the current recommendation of the CDC,” Tito’s said on Twitter.

That’s when social media really heated up because, hello, any time is a good time to buy yourself some Tito’s.

OK, I take offense to that one in particular.

Of course, washing one’s hands with hot water and soap will work even better and it’s much less expensive. According to the CDC, everyone should be lathering their hands “by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds,” they say. “Need a timer? Hum the ‘Happy Birthday’ song from beginning to end twice,” and get flashbacks of yourself when your parents used to make all the waitstaff sing “Happy Birthday” at your local restaurant and you wished for a sinkhole to open up and swallow you whole.

A Tito’s spokesperson told the Dallas Morning News that the company wanted to “set the record straight” after seeing misinformation about using vodka as hand sanitizer spreading on social media. “While it would be good for business for our fans to use massive quantities of Tito’s for hand sanitizer, it would be a shame to waste the good stuff, especially if it doesn’t sanitize,” the spokesperson said. “Which is doesn’t, per the CDC.”

Listen, you can never go wrong buying a bottle of Tito’s — perhaps we should just all stick to drinking it instead of bathing in it and just wash our damn hands.