Vitamin beer

Coming up with a sensible excuse for your sweetie, before making a trip to the local watering hole to down a few cold ones, has never been easy. If Philippino inventor Billy L Lalang gets his way however, you'll soon be able to say that your just heading out for a cool healthy beverage.

"If you are looking for an excuse to take a swig, this is it,'' said Billy L. Lalang, who concocted a beer mixed with Vitamin B, to replace this essential vitamin lost when excessive amounts of alcohol are consumed.

Although yet to be marketed, this "prophylactic for drinkers'' as the Philippine inventor calls it, has won a gold medal at the European Union-sponsored Genius-Europe competition.

Lalang, president of the Manila Innovation Development Society, says he has 42 inventions to his name, including a one-a-day lollipop, packed with vitamins and other essentials for undernourished children.