New Year revellers warned against deadly fake vodka sold on UK streets
Partygoers are being urged to stay on high alert after thousands of bottles of fake vodka containing chemicals that could prove deadly have been discovered in several locations across the country
New Year revellers have been warned to watch out for deadly fake vodka being sold on UK streets.
Partygoers are being urged to stay on high alert after thousands of bottles of fake vodka containing chemicals that could prove deadly have been discovered in several locations across the country.
Now high street retailers nationwide are being alerted to the proliferation ofbogus booze on sale at bargain prices over the Christmas and New Year period.
The new warning comes after Trading Standards watchdogs seized 166 bottles of counterfeit vodka from three Luton shops.
And a raid on an illicit factory in Derbyshire uncovered 20,000 empty bottles, filling equipment and empty cans of anti-freeze.
Meanwhile in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, fake bottles of Smirnoff found to contain a chemical used in anti-freeze were seized.
In the Luton case, officers removed vodka branded Glen's and Kommissar from shop shelves after noticing the label on the bottle said "Botteled" rather than "Bottled".
The Kommissar was found to have fake duty-paid labels. Three samples were found to contain dangerously-high levels of isopropanol, commonly used as an industrial solvent, and butanol which is used in paint remover.
Councillor Aslam Khan, portfolio holder for public health, told Off Licence News: "Drinking these chemicals could cause serious illness or even death in extreme cases. "
Many unsuspecting consumers may think they are buying cheap duty-free alcohol, when they are actually buying fake and dangerous products."
Earlier this week, the Mirror revealed how drinks companies are putting invisible sugar dye into drinks in a bid to fight back against fraudsters.
