Don’t drink yourself to death with counterfeit vodka

A potentially fatal vodka is being sold in Knowsley an possibly other areas of Merseyside. Knowsley Council’s Trading Standards are warning residents to be on the lookout for Kremlin Vodka that is being sold on the street and door to door.

It has been discovered that the vodka contains illegally high levels of methanol, 16 times higher than the recommended maximum making it unfit for human consumption. Even if only a moderate amount is drunk the vodka could cause blindness or death. Two people have already died in the last four years from drinking similar bootleg vodka.

The vodka is being sold in a clear 1 litre clear glass bottle with a large red label edged in blue with a picture of the Kremlin on it. Reports to Knowsley Trading Standard state that it is being sold from a white van in the Whiston area.

Mike Leyden, Knowsley’s Trading Standards Manager, said: “If anyone is approached to buy this bootleg vodka we strongly advise them not to and to report the incident to ourselves or the police. Traders who may have it in stock should remove it from sale immediately. If you are already in possession of the vodka it is crucial that you do not consume it and secondly please report it so that we can make sure that no one has their health put at risk by this lethal drink.”
Anyone who has any information or who would like further advice can contact Knowsley’s Trading Standards on 0151 443 4747.

Knowsley has a specific Alcohol Strategy Development Officer that works closely with Trading Standards, Police and the Primary Care Trust to ensure Knowsley’s community stays healthy and safe.

Cathy Fitzgerald, Head of the Drug and Alcohol Action Team, said: “Over the last year we have been working to develop and implement the alcohol harm reduction strategy focusing on informing and engaging the community and young people to keep them healthy and safe the responsible use of alcohol. We strongly urge the community to make sure they understand personal and social consequences of alcohol misuse and the implications of buying counterfeit alcohol which has even more serious health consequences.”

Colin Auty one of Knowsley’s Trading Standards Officers, shows the fake Kremlin Vodka along with other counterfeit vodka’s taken off Knowsley streets.