Saint Luke’s Hospital notice recommending alcohol consumption to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection is fake

A user has sent a photo to FACTLY’s WhatsApp number and asked about the authenticity of the notice in the photo which is in the name of Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City. The photo of the same notice is being shared (archived) on social media since March 2020. In the notice, it was written that Saint Luke’s Hospital research showed consuming alcoholic beverages may help reduce the risk of infection by COVID-19. Let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.

Claim: Saint Luke’s Hospital recommends alcohol consumption to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection.
Fact: Saint Luke’s Hospital authorities have clarified that the notice is not authentic; it is fake. Also, in one of its documents, ‘WHO – Europe’ has said that ‘consuming alcohol will not destroy the virus, and its consumption is likely to increase the health risks if a person becomes infected with the virus’. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.

When searched about the notice given in the post, it was found that Saint Luke’s Hospital authorities have already clarified regarding this issue in March 2020. They have also clarified the same on their social media accounts (Facebook and Twitter). In another tweet, Saint Luke’s Hospital authorities have said that ‘vodka has no impact on the coronavirus’. So, fake notice with false claims is being shared in the name of Saint Luke’s Hospital.

Yes, that information is false. Vodka has no impact on the coronavirus. The best thing you can do is wash your hands and practice good health etiquette such as making sure you stay home when you are sick. Thank you for spreading the word.
— Saint Luke's (@saintlukeskc) March 20, 2020

Also, in one its documents, ‘WHO – Europe’ has said that ‘consuming alcohol will not destroy the virus, and its consumption is likely to increase the health risks if a person becomes infected with the virus. Alcohol (at a concentration of at least 60% by volume) works as a disinfectant on your skin, but it has no such effect within your system when ingested.’ It ends the report with the suggestion – ‘under no circumstances should you drink any type of alcoholic product as a means of preventing or treating COVID-19 infection’.