Drinkers warned about fake booze

10:45am Thursday 28th August 2008

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COUNTERFEIT vodka, which could make people ill if they drink it, may be on sale in the area.

Bexley Council's trading standards officers are urging the public, and traders, to look out for the fake Imperial Vodka which carries the Spar brand name.

Excessive levels of methanol have been found in the vodka.

Authentic bottles of Spar Imperial Vodka are not implicated and none of the fake vodka has been found in Spar stores, which are the only outlet for the Spar brand so vodka with that label, being sold elsewhere, should be treated as suspicious.

The counterfeit vodka has a hint of acetone smell, similar to nail varnish.

The bottles also have the code QI:1445c near the base and a smudged inkjet code reading that looks like 102234 04/08/02.

There is no lot code on the neck of the bottle, whereas lot codes are present on all legitimate stock.

Anyone with information about counterfeit Spar Imperial Vodka being offered for sale should call the food safety team on 020 8308 7634 or email them.