A UK man says thought he had COVID-19 after drinking a low percentage Stella Artois beer, claiming he had lost his taste.
The Belgian lager has lowered its alcohol percentage from 4.8 percent to 4.6 percent in the UK, leaving drinkers furious over its "bland" ad "insipid" taste, the Daily Mail reports.
The brewing company announced the change last October, but UK drinkers only started to notice after reviews from local supermarket Tesco.
"Absolutely ruined it. Used to be my favourite drink and since it's been reduced to 4.6 percent it tastes like water. Please change it back," a Tesco customer wrote.
"Shocked they have lowered Stella to 4.6 percent now. Tastes rubbish. Such a shame, used to be premium lager, now the only thing premium is the price," another wrote.
One person even went as far as to say he thought he had COVID-19 because it was so flavourless.
"Today I cracked open a can of Stella 4.6 percent and thought I had COVID, I could not taste anything. Stella is now bland, insipid and already described as dishwater."
The loss of smell and taste is a symptom of COVID-19, a virus that has affected more than 4 million people in the UK.
But Dorien Nijs, brewmaster at Stella's brewery in Belgium defended the percentage change.
"We know that taste and quality remain the number one priority for Stella Artois drinkers," she said in a statement.
"We also recognise a health and wellness trend through moderation.
"We are proud that we can now deliver the same Stella Artois taste people know and love, with an ABV of 4.6 percent."
In New Zealand, the alcohol percentage remains at 5 percent, but it is unknown whether this change will be adopted in the future.
