Buses Delivered Children Who Thought They Were Going to School to a Distillery for Dangerous, Illegal Child Labor Instead, Authorities Say

A distillery was shut down in India over violation of child labor law practices. (Photo: AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)

Reuters reported on Wednesday that Som Group distillery, an Indian beer and spirits producer, was impounded by authorities and had all operations suspended after authorities discovered the company violated child labor laws.

Thirty-nine boys and 20 girls were found illegally working at the facilities and had suffered chemical burns on their hands, apparently from the labor. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights enlisted the help of law enforcement to carry out the rest of the investigation.

“We have sent the police force to ensure there are no issues during the sealing process,” Senior Madhya Pradesh Police Official Vikas Kumar Shahwal told Reuters.

Reuters reported Wednesday that the children were transported to the distillery in school buses, and bad actors brought them to the plant and exploit them undetected.

“They were enrolled in a school and would come in school buses,” NCPCR Chief Priyank Kanoongo said, according to Reuters. “So people thought they were going to school, but they worked in a liquor factory.”

The government temporarily suspended Som Group Distillery’s license to manufacture alcoholic beverages, and the local labor department is looking deeper into the situation.

According to Som Group’s website, the company is known for producing Hunter Strong Premium Beer, Black Fort Super Strong Beer, Woodpecker Wheat Beer and Black Fort Premium Lager Beer. As far as spirits, Som Group distills whiskey, rum vodka and brandy. The beverage conglomerate also produces a ready-to-drink beverage called White Fox Refresh.

On Thursday, Nikkei Asia reported that Som’s shares dropped an additional 9% after the authorities discovered children working at the plant, marking a total drop of 15%.

Reuters reported the company shares plunged on Wednesday and shared that Som claimed the facilities implementing child labor were not its own and belonged to an “associate company.” The outlet claimed that contractors were responsible for sourcing labor at the facilities.

In an even more disturbing turn of events, it appeared that the children had no idea they were being taken to the facilities to work.

“On the basis of interaction with the children, there is an apprehension that the minors found working in the said distilleries may have been brought to the premises in the guise of taking children to school or to play,” NCPCR said in a letter to authorities.

Som credits itself as an “internationally acclaimed brand” and has a presence in the United States, the United Kingdom and New Zealand. The company was founded in 1993 and Reuters reports it is currently valued at $271 million.

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