Fake Vodka Sold In Birmingham

People in Birmingham are being warned to be aware of potentially lethal counterfeit vodka on sale in Handsworth

The city council's trading standard officers seized bottles of SELEKT brand vodka from an off-licence in Handsworth with lab results showing a high level of methanol -which has the potential to damage health.

The bottles are copies of the genuine brand currently only sold in ASDA.

To help spot fake bottles consumers should pay close attention to the label. Genuine bottles of SELEKT vodka have a varnished glossy label to the touch, whereas the fake bottles have labels that are of a matt finish. Another tell-tail-sign is the smell of the product, the counterfeit vodka smells like methylated spirits.

Genuine bottles also have a lot code etched on the lower edge of the bottle and have the marking ‘AGC’ on the bottle base. Neither of these markings are featured on the counterfeit bottles.

Cllr Barbara Dring, Chair of the Licensing and Public Protection Committee, said: “We are very concerned about the sale of this product in Birmingham, not just from a fraud point of view, but also because of the potential harm this product can cause if consumed.

“It is vital that anyone who has this counterfeit product get in touch with the council so we can identify where the product is being sold and take appropriate action.”