Issued By West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service

DANGEROUS VODKA

Following a spate of similar instances of fake vodka and whisky alerts, Trading Standards and Environmental Health Officers are putting out a new warning regarding yet more fake vodka, which contains harmful levels of methanol.

Over the past few months, the Food Standards Agency has issued food hazard warnings about fake vodka and whisky, which were found to be contaminated with methanol, a poisonous form of alcohol. A new alert has now been issued regarding a different brand of vodka, which has been seized by Customs and Excise officers in North London. The vodka concerned comes in two slightly varying forms and can be identified as follows:
The S. Petersbourg Vodka bottles are 70cl clear glass bottles with a white label. The label also has a gold crown with crossed swords and two red lions at the top, above the name S. Petersbourg Vodka, which is in black and red lettering. There is a gold image of buildings at the bottom. The label is also marked 70cl, e, 37.5%Vol.
The St. Petersburg Vodka comes in one-litre bottles and is otherwise identical apart from the slight variation in the spelling of the name. They are also marked 1 LTR, rather than 70cl.

Although none of this dangerous vodka has been found in West Yorkshire, officers will be checking retail outlets to make sure it is not on sale. Any retailer or member of the public who has purchased this product, or suspects that it is on sale, should contact West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service or their District Environmental Health Departments. Under no circumstances should the product be consumed. Councillor Graham Clarke, Chairman of the West Yorkshire Trading Standards Committee warned:
“It is of great concern to me that we are again having to warn people about dangerous spirit drinks. Methanol poisoning can cause serious harm including abdominal pain, breathing difficulties, blurred vision and even blindness. The people behind this racket clearly have no regard for the safety of the people who might drink these products. I would ask the public to look out for these products in case they may have been distributed in West Yorkshire and let us know immediately.”

If consumers have any concerns they should contact the West Yorkshire Consumer Helpline on 0113 3 848 848 between 8.30 am – 6.30 pm Monday to Friday and 9.00 am – 1.00 pm on Saturdays.

For further information please contact

Graham Hebblethwaite Divisional Manager/General Media Contact 0113 289 8218
Food Standards Agency https://www.foodstandards.gov.uk/