Animaree drink brings cheers from all veggies.

Y OU don't have to be an expert in nutrition to know that you don't give a vegetarian a cup of Bovril.

While this warming, wholesome drink may be just what the doctor ordered for a weak chest or a hilalker in need of a pick-me-up, its beefy connections are not for those who have turned their backs on meat.

What may come as a surprise to many people - even vegetarians - is the animal content of many everyday alcoholic drinks.

I was drawn to this startling fact by some snazzy ads for a new beer called Viva which, although it was not designed as a vegetarian beer, has certainly been endorsed by the Vegetarian Society as the first such beverage.

The mission behind Viva was to provide a drink brewed using totally natural and pure methods.

In came pure artesian well water, natural two-rowed British barley, natural whole hops instead of hop essence or powder, natural yeast and, very importantly, time. An extra three weeks allows the beer to clear naturally. Without knowing it, the creators had found a beer that owed nothing to animal extract.

The problem is that cask-conditioned ales need treatment to clear the yeast material held in the liquid. This is invariably done by adding isinglass which is derived from the swim bladders of fish.

Occasionally the animaerived additive glyceryl monostearate is used as a foam control agent in the production of keg beers.

It doesn't end there.

Most of the main brands of cider will have been given clearing treatment using gelatine.

Many wines are again cleared using animaerived ingredients. Clearing agents can be isinglass, gelatine, egg albumen, modified casein from milk, chitin - derived from the shells of crabs or lobsters - or ox blood. Alternatives do exist in the form of beto nite, kieselguhr, kaolin and silica gel or solution.

Some blended whiskies and Spanish brandies have been conditioned in casks that previously held sherry, which may have been treated with animal derivatives. Some imported vodkas may also have been passed through a bone charcoal filter.

As for fortified wines, all ports except crusted port are treated using gelatine, and the colorant E120 cochineal used in red wines, soft drinks and Campari is produced by extracting the red body material from insects.

But don't feel you have to live on lemon tea.

The Vegetarian Society has a list of products deemed suitable for its members. For more information call 0161 925 0793.

If the animal content of alcohol comes as a shock to you, consider getting hold of a list - also published by the Vegetarian Society - featuring what it terms "stumbling blocks".

Aspic - savoury jelly derived from meat or fish

Beta carotene - may be carried in a gelatine stabiliser when added to soft drinks

Bone - used in bone china and cutlery handles

Bread - local bakers may grease their tins with animal fat

Brushes - pig hair is commonly used for paint and shaving brushes

Capsules - usually made from gelatine

Chewing gum - often contains glycerine 

Chocolate - watch out for whey and emulsifiers

Down used in bedding - usually from slaughtered ducks or geese, though some live plucking does occur

Jelly - usually contains gelatine

Leather - around 10 percent of the value of a cow or sheep at slaughter is in its skin

Pasta - may contain egg or squid ink

Photographs - all photographic film uses gelatine

Silk - harvesting silk used in clothing invariably causes the death of the silk worm

Soaps - contain animal fats

Sweets - look out for gelatine in boiled sweets and mints

Toothpastes - many brands contain glycerine

Washing powder - soap-based powders may contain animal fats.