Alcohol Help

Staffordshire County Council has won more money to continue its fight to stamp out the sale of dangerous counterfeit alcohol in the county.

The county council’s ongoing fight against criminals producing potentially lethal counterfeit alcohol has now been recognised by the Food Standards Agency. It has awarded Staffordshire £50,474 towards the continuing operation in recognition of the extensive and effective work already done.

The money, from the agency’s ‘fighting fund’, will help the county council’s trading standards team continue its investigation and enable follow up action to take place, at no extra cost to local council taxpayers.

Cabinet member for communities Pat Corfield said: “Our fight against the sale of dangerous counterfeit alcohol has been extensive and achieved real results. Our message to unscrupulous counterfeiters is we are on to you – and our advice to traders and shoppers is to be aware for your own safety.

“We have been thorough in visiting every independent off licence in the county and unfortunately found what is believed to be counterfeit alcohol in around a fifth of them. However by alerting the public and by changing the behaviour of traders where counterfeit alcohol was found we can say we have achieved a successful result. I’d like to thank the media for their help in helping us to warn and inform people.

“The award of the funding is a true recognition of the hard work of the team and is again demonstrating our commitment to deliver real value for money for our residents.”

Staffordshire’s counterfeit alcohol operation was launched following reports in the north of the county last summer that people who had bought certain types of vodka had experienced burning throats when drinking the product. When analysed, the vodka was found to be counterfeit and contain methanol; a hazardous chemical used in industrial cleaning products and antifreeze.

The trading standards team visited every independent off licence in Staffordshire (over 400) and seized 1,800 bottles from 73 premises. Analysis of these products is currently taking place.

The Food Standards Agency funding will be used over the next six months to support the analysis work and any enforcement.

Staffordshire County Council
Number 1 Staffordshire Place, Stafford
ST16 2LP
Tel: 0300 111 8000

Counterfeit alcohol is failing to find its way into Staffordshire’s pubs and bars, an ongoing county council operation has found.

Licensees across the county have been vigilant and continued to ensure customers’ safety. The on-licence visits were carried our by Staffordshire’s trading standards team after suspected counterfeit alcohol was found in one in five of the county’s independent off licenses.

Visits to 17 licensed premises in Staffordshire Moorlands, Cannock Chase, Stafford, Lichfield and East Staffordshire were carried out over a two-week period.

Staffordshire County Council’s trading standards officers and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs detection officers worked jointly on the project along with the International Federation of Spirits Producers (IFSP).

Cabinet member for communities Pat Corfield said: “It is good to know that licensees across Staffordshire have been vigilant and protected customers and themselves.

“While we are facing a growing problem of counterfeit alcohol, people visiting our licensed premises can be reassured they are buying legitimate products as they would expect.

“Our officers, working with colleagues from customs, also found no evidence of non-duty paid goods. We want to work with businesses to support them and offer advice – the county’s prosperity is a top priority for us.

“We are continuing to warn people of the dangers of counterfeit alcohol which has been found in many independent off licenses. They need to make sure they look out for the tell-tale signs and can contact our trading standards team if they suspect the alcohol product is counterfeit.”

Counterfeit alcohol can be identified by:

• Differing fill levels in bottles of the same brand

• Labels that peel off or are not applied straight

• Loose fitting bottle caps

• Obscure brands

• Cloudy appearance or presence of grit in the bottle

• Spelling mistakes on bottles

It can cause sickness, dizziness, blurred vision and in extreme cases blindness. Anyone with concerns or who would like to report suspected counterfeit alcohol should contact Staffordshire County Council’s trading standards team on 0300 111 8000.

Staffordshire County Council
Number 1 Staffordshire Place,
Stafford
ST16 2LP