Trading standards issue New Year fake vodka warnings
LGA media release 31 December 2011
Consumers looking to save money this New Year are being warned by council trading standards teams of the dangers of buying and consuming cheap fake vodka.
Tests on counterfeit bottles recently seized by council trading standards officers from around the country have revealed alarming levels of methanol – a key ingredient used to make anti-freeze with the potential to blind somebody – as well as various industrial solvents.
Telltale signs of fake vodka include:
- drink smells of nail varnish
- wonky labels
- poor quality print
- spelling mistakes
- bottles on the shelf not filled to the same level.
Recently a shopkeeper was fined £16,000 after Surrey County Council Trading Standards seized fake Glen's vodka which, when tested, contained 235 times more methanol than the legal limit.
While trading standards officers at Horsham District Council issued a warning to residents following a seizure of Drop Vodka, Red Admiral, Arctic Ice and Spar Imperial that contained the industrial solvent, propan-2-ol. Smirnoff and Glen's vodka was previously copied with bottles containing 52.5 per cent strength alcohol despite the labels' claims of 37.5 per cent.
People living in Wokingham have also been alerted to a consignment of 700 one-litre bottles of Drop Vodka which, when investigated by West Berkshire and Wokingham Trading Standards teams, contained chloroform.
Cllr Paul Bettison, Local Government Association Regulation Spokesman, said:
"We've all seen the dreadful scenes in India recently highlighting the fatal truth of what can happen if you drink fake alcohol. It is often made in uncontrolled conditions and those buying and drinking it will have no idea of its contents. Everyone wants a bargain, especially at this time of year, but surely the potential health risks far outweigh any financial savings. Purchasing it also does nothing to help legitimate businesses stay afloat.
"Frankly, if the offer seems too good to be true, then it probably is. If anyone is suspicious about a supplier or feels that they may have bought a bottle of counterfeit alcohol, please do not drink it. Instead, contact your local council or Consumer Direct for advice as a matter of urgency."
Other recent investigations include:
Salford City Council's Trading Standards team seized 89 bottles of counterfeit Smirnoff and 15 bottles of Drop Vodka in raids last month and in September. On analysis, the drinks were found to contain denatured alcohol unfit for human consumption.
One in five independent off licences in Staffordshire were found to have been selling counterfeit alcohol during a recent trading standards crackdown. Staffordshire County Council's trading standards department launched an investigation after reports of people's throats burning after drinking certain types of vodka. About 1,800 bottles were seized from 73 stores. Products confiscated were found to contain high levels of methanol.
St Helen's Borough Council's Trading Standards team has recently taken two prosecutions against licensed premises for selling substituted Smirnoff vodka. Earlier this month a bar owner had his alcohol licence suspended for a week and was fined £200 with £1,000 costs.
Nottinghamshire County Council's trading standards found cleaning fluid and methanol in bottles of fake brand and counterfeit vodka on sale at two off-licences in Mansfield. Isopropanol – a chemical used in cleaning fluids – was found in five bottles of Drop Vodka. Methanol was found in eight bottles of counterfeit vodka, falsely labelled as Glen's brand.
ends
Author: LGA Media Office
Contact: LGA Media Office, Telephone: 020 7664 3333
Note to editors
1) Contacts for case studies above:
James Oxley, Surrey County Council, Telephone: 0208 541 7259
Email: james.oxley@surreycc.gov.uk
James Sherwood, Wokingham Borough Council, Telephone: 0118 974 6030
Email: james.sherwood@wokingham.gov.uk
Rod Brown, Horsham District Council, Telephone: 01403 215426
Email: Rod.brown@horsham.gov.uk
Caroline Clarke, Salford City Council Trading Standards, Telephone: 0161 925 1033
Email: caroline.clarke@salford.gov.uk
Tom Hobbins, Staffordshire County Council, Telephone: 01785 276 831
Email: tom.hobbins@staffordshire.gov.uk
Chris Cahill, St Helen's Borough Council, Telephone: 01744 456 166
Email: chris.cahill@sthelens.gov.uk
Rob Shirley, Nottinghamshire County Council, Telephone: 0115 977 2802
Email: rob.shirley@nottscc.gov.uk
2) Consumer Direct can be contacted on Telephone: 08454 04 05 06
Website: www.consumerdirect.gov.uk
3 January 2012
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