Issued By Cumbria County Council

COUNTERFEIT SCOTCH WHISKY ALERT

Cumbria Trading Standards Department are warning the public of the presence of counterfeit Scotch Whisky.  The whisky is on sale under the guise of Johnnie Walker Black Label Scotch Whisky.  It contains harmful levels of methanol – 2,000 times the normal level found in this product.

The counterfeit product can easily be differentiated from genuine JOHNNIE WALKER BLACK LABEL Scotch Whisky in the following ways:

• All counterfeit  bottles have Spanish language rear labels and a fake lot code “L04P24878342” printed on the rear of the front centre label;
• The word ‘Distillers’ in the Royal Warrant statement on the counterfeit bottles’ neck labels is incorrectly spelt as ‘Distilleries’;
• The counterfeit bottles have no “E mark” on the base between “700ml and 73mm”

Symptoms of methanol poisoning include:

• Severe abdominal pain;

• Drowsiness;

• Dizziness;

• Blurred vision leading to blindness;

• Coma with breathing difficulties.

Trading Standards officers in Cumbria are currently visiting off-licences in the County.  Any one who has bought a bottle of this product should contact their local Trading Standards office immediately.

To date this counterfeit whisky has been found in Newham, Lambeth, Stoke Newington and Wolverhampton.

Notes for Editors:

1.                   For more details about the Press Release contact Eamonn Quinn (01229 894522) or

Patrick Thomas  (01539 773591).

      2.         Trading Standards offices in Cumbria are located at

      74 Abbey Road, Barrow in Furness LA14 5UB                             01229 894520

      13 Earl Street, Carlisle  CA1 1DP                                                    01228 607447

      Fairfield, Station Road, Cockermouth  CA13 9PZ                          01900 325980

      Richmond House, Catherine Street, Whitehaven  CA28 7QX       01946 852880

      County Offices, Kendal  LA9 4RQ                                                     01539 773577