Warning for West Berkshire over counterfeit ‘Glen’s Vodka’ found to contain industrial solvent

Dodgy vodka warnings have been issued in West Berkshire, with people being told not to buy it.

Food standards officers issued an alert after they became aware of the production and distribution of counterfeit vodka being labelled as Glen’s Vodka.

They worked with the brand owner for Glen’s Vodka to help distinguish between genuine and counterfeit products.

The counterfeit vodka may have a strange smell and taste differently to genuine vodka, they said.

Products sampled were found to contain isopropyl alcohol, which is an industrial solvent and is not intended for human consumption.

Consumption of isopropyl alcohol can quickly lead to alcohol poisoning, and in severe cases death.

Trading Standards officers, on a routine food standards inspection of a store, seized vodka which they believed to be counterfeit Glen’s Vodka based on the information issued by the FSA.

The vodka was sent away for testing and it has now received confirmation from analysts that the counterfeit vodka seized does contain isopropyl (propane).

This is the first case of this product being found in the South East of England.

Every genuine bottle of Glen’s Vodka has a laser etched code applied to the bottle between the rear label and the base of the bottle.

People are warned not to buy any Glen’s Vodka that has no laser etched lot code.

Vodka contaminated by isopropyl alcohol has a strong odour so if the vodka smells different do not drink it - warn the officers.

If anyone believes they may have purchased such products they should store it in a safe place and report it to Trading Standards on tsadvice@westberks.gov.uk or telephone 01635 519930 for further instruction and advice.