Business information

Knock-off Vodka not deadly - but still don't drink it.

Although it isn't life-threatening, counterfeit vodka circulating in Hertfordshire still contains ten times the level of Methanol found in genuine Glen's Vodka.

And already county trading standards officers have discovered 205 bottles of the counterfeit spirit in 31 premises - in towns as far apart as Stevenage and Rickmansworth, and will continue to track down the source.

"Luckily these bottles are not lethal, but they are still counterfeit and contain higher levels of this chemical, so our priority is to get them off the shelves and find out just who is travelling around Hertfordshire selling it cheap," said County Councillor Richard Smith, Executive Member for Community Safety.

"Methanol is a toxic chemical and obviously not the sort of mixer you want in this quantity with vodka."

Businesses and consumers are being urged to take extra care when buying 70cl bottles of Glen’s Vodka - especially from an unusual source. Make sure that the authenticity of the vodka is verified.

The bottles, which have not been through the company's strict distilling process, had previously been found at five locations in neighbouring Buckinghamshire - sparking a national investigation.

Genuine Glen's Vodka 70cl can be easily identified. It comes in bottles supplied by Allied Glass Containers with a small AGC logo on the base. The following information is also embossed in the glass around 5mm from the base: 70cl 58mm C12173. Any bottle of Glen's Vodka 70cl without this marking is counterfeit.

Counterfeit bottles found so far have the following codes embossed in the glass: SE607 700ml 66mm, 8509 700ml 66mm, 7828 700ml 66mm. Glen Catrine does not use any of these bottles for its 70cl Glen's Vodka.

The front and back labels on the counterfeit bottles bottle appear to be self-adhesive as there is no visible glue pattern.
Genuine Glen's Vodka 70cl labels are applied by a labelling machine using a wet adhesive which produces a distinctive glue pattern on the back of the label (horizontal lines approximately 2mm apart).

Anyone who has purchased or been offered cheap Glen's Vodka should contact Consumer Direct, the Government helpline which offers free impartial advice to consumers, on 08454 04 05 06.