The sale of potentially toxic fake alcoholic drinks is a growing problem, a Bradford councillor has warned.
The warning comes after officers seized 656 litres of a fake spirit labelled as Premium Vodka from Leeds’ Bed Nightclub, owned by Gatecrasher Clubs and Bars Ltd, last year.
The spirit was found to be industrial alcohol containing isopropanol, tertiary butanol and chloroform, none of which should be in vodka.
The supplier, Midnight Tipples Ltd of Docklands, London, has been fined £10,000 with £2,261.64 costs by magistrates at Leeds.
Following the case, Bradford Councillor Val Slater, chairman of West Yorkshire Trading Standards Committee, said: “This is West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service’s biggest ever seizure of fake vodka.
“No checks had been made on this vodka before Midnight Tipples Ltd supplied it to Gatecrasher Clubs and Bars Ltd. The low price of this vodka should have raised suspicions to Midnight Tipples that it was not genuine vodka.
“Fake alcohol is a growing problem and the public should be on their guard because of its potentially toxic nature. If anyone has genuine concerns regarding the alcohol being sold in bars or shops I would urge them to contact the Citizens Advice Helpline on 08454 04 05 06.”