'Lethal' vodka seized from shops

The Food Standards Agency has put councils across the country on alert after counterfeit bottles of vodka were found laced with potentially lethal levels of methanol.

Trading standards officers from Medway Council, Kent, seized the bottles from two shops after being alerted by members of the public.

In one case, a bottle of contaminated counterfeit Imperial Vodka was found to have more than 500 times the recommended amount of methanol.

In the other incident a bottle of Glen's vodka was found to contain 30 times the recommended amount of methanol.

Symptoms from these types of levels of methanol include blindness, dizziness, stomach pain and blurred vision.

Cllr Rehman Chishti, Medway Council's portfolio holder for community safety and enforcement, said: "I am extremely pleased that Medway Trading Standards officers have reacted quickly and efficiently in removing these potentially lethal batches of alcohol from sale."

Trading Standards officers are urging anyone who may be concerned they may have purchased counterfeit vodka to call 01634 333555.