Now, TS knows that corruption is a terrible thing, especially since the offers of freebies to write nice things about various firms dried up, but we reckon some just take measures to stop it a bit too far.

We read recently that German civil servants in the finance ministry have been banned from accepting gifts of any sort, and that includes hot and cold drinks. Even a glass of water could be construed as an attempt to influence the poor souls.

We can imagine how dangerous such gifts are, well at least if the annual German finance ministry trip to the Sahara goes wrong and the team is stranded for days without provisions until a kind, mysterious corporate type comes along with an offer of water, simply for signing a lucrative public service contract.

Or are we being just a little far reaching?