This is the substance at the centre of the row between a ferry pilot, a union and a Government.

Magnum Tonic Wine is marketed as an energy drink which raises the male libido. Made in Jamaica, it contains iron and vitamins, and also 'Vigorton'.

The 200 millilitre bottle features an illustration of a man embracing a voluptuous woman. It also states an alcohol content of 16.5 percent.

Yesterday, The Royal Gazette bought a bottle at a general store for $4.50.

The taste is not exactly pleasant, and can only be described as a combination of cough syrup and fortified wine.

But ferry pilot Dwayne Pearman, 37, was said to have consumed several bottles of 'Magnum' when he crashed a fast ferry into Rockaway dock.

There were 60 passengers on board at the time, and despite no reported injuries, the incident resulted in thousands of dollars worth of damage.

Pearman, of Hook and Ladder Lane, Sandys, pleaded guilty at Magistrates' Court to being more than twice over the limit when he crashed the J.L. Cecil Smith on December 21.

He was fined $2,000, and six days later was fired from Marine and Ports Services.

The court heard that when Police officers arrested Pearman, they found him unsteady on his feet and spraying himself with air freshener.

Officers found a bottle of the tonic wine in his bag and another six empty bottles in a bin.

A blood test revealed he had between 262 and 264 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood — more than two and a half times the marine limit.

Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU) president Chris Furbert, however, denies Pearman has a drinking problem.

He says the seven bottles of 'Magnum' were bought from a "convenience store" as energy drinks.

Mr. Furbert told the Press: "It's a tonic wine and for what purpose he used it for that day I have no idea, but there is no history of Mr. Pearman having an alcohol problem."

Yesterday, he told The Royal Gazette: "The union's position is the man was not drunk.

"He might have been under the influence but he was not drunk. If someone is drunk they can't stand up. I don't think he was in that state when the Police came."

One retailer of Magnum also claimed the tonic wine was sold for energy, rather than alcohol.

The proprietor, who did not wish to be named, said he has now removed the item from his shelves, as he is "not sure" about the legality of selling it.

However, this reporter still managed to purchase a bottle over the counter from his assistant yesterday.

The retailer said: "It does have a reputation for increasing the libido, although I haven't put it to the test.

"I don't know if I need it or not! But it is quite popular — guys tend to buy it.

"People buy Magnum for energy, as a tonic, rather than for alcohol purposes. That's what it's all about."

Last night Health Minister Nelson Bascome said bottles of 'tonic wine' could now be restocked under the alcohol aisles as a result of the ferry pilot controversy.

The Chief Medical Officer sent out a member of staff yesterday to discover which stores the product is sold in.

Mr. Bascome said: "We want to see what the alcohol content is of this beverage, because if it has alcohol in it, it shouldn't be an over-the-counter drink.

"This would be in contravention of the Licensing Act. Once we get all the information we will act as soon as we can, and will move on it."