Local residents and businesses are being warned to be on the look-out for illegal vodka which has been discovered on sale in the area. The Food Standards Agency is warning consumers not to drink an illegal brand of vodka called Drop Vodka, which has been found on sale in some shops.
Consumers are advised not to drink the vodka because it is not registered by any company in the UK and could be harmful. Legitimate food and drink producers and all businesses in the food chain are subject to rigorous official controls to ensure the food and drink available in this country is safe. ‘Drop Vodka’ has not been through this process so the Agency cannot be sure what is in the product.
Tests carried out by local authorities have identified the presence of Propan-2-ol and methanol in some of the vodka, and other substances that could harm people’s health. Other tests have found that the product does not contain enough alcohol to be called vodka. Legally, vodka should contain no less than 37.5% alcohol but ‘Drop Vodka’ has levels of 28.6% alcohol.
There are also some labelling issues with ‘Drop Vodka’, particularly the lack of producer’s details, which are needed to ensure that the vodka is fully traceable. To date, the illicit bottles of vodka have been found on sale in England and Wales, specifically in the towns of Scunthorpe, Norwich, Wakefield, Leeds, Salford, Wolverhampton, Nottingham, Milton Keynes, Potters Bar, Aldershot, Colchester and Cardiff, though it could be on sale throughout the UK.
‘Drop Vodka’ has been found on sale in small independent retailers, corner shops, petrol stations and so on, but there is also concern that pubs and clubs may have been targeted. Colin Houston, Head of Incidents and Food Fraud at the Food Standards Agency, said: ‘We urge consumers not to buy “Drop Vodka”. It may be cheap, but people have got to ask if it is a price worth paying if their health could be at stake. We are working closely with local authorities to catch these criminals who are trying to profit by putting people’s health at risk.’
Councillor Judith Woodman, Executive Member for Communities, Housing and Social Justice, said: “Illegally produced alcohol is often sold at a much cheaper price than legitimate brands and can seem like a good deal but it is not worth the risk. The people behind the production and distribution of Drop Vodka are undoubtedly criminals, but anyone selling it to the public is equally culpable. They are putting profit before the health of the public and could be prosecuted. Shopkeepers found to be selling illegal alcohol face serious penalties including the loss of their licence.”
If consumers discover any ‘Drop Vodka’ on sale, they should contact their local authority or call the Food Standards Agency food fraud hotline on 020 7276 8527.
