Nightclub fined for fresher week fake vodka scandal
A LEEDS nightclub has been landed with a fine for selling industrial alcohol, which included chloroform, as vodka at a student freshers week event.
Leeds Magistrates Court handed a £5,000 fine and £2095.67 costs to Gatecrasher Clubs & Bars after officers of the West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service visited Bed nightclub on New Briggate following a complaint that the premises was selling counterfeit vodka.
The officers found 656 litres of fake spirit labelled as ‘Premium vodka’ on September 11, 2012, which the manager had just removed from sale that evening as a result of customer complaints.
The drink was tested by the West Yorkshire Public Analyst and found to contain isopropanol, tertiary butanol and chloroform, none of which should be in vodka.
All the bottles were subsequently seized by Trading Standards officers.
The investigations revealed that the drink was obtained through a broker as a ‘cash deal’, arranged through the head office of Gatecrasher Clubs and Bars, which is based in Sheffield.
The case against the supplier was adjourned until September 13.
Coun Bill Urry, of the Trading Standards Committee, said: “This is West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service’s biggest seizure yet of fake vodka. I am astounded that a nightclub operator could have such scant regard for public safety by buying drink in this manner. It is fortunate that the manager acted quickly and no-one was harmed.
“Adequate checks were not carried out on the product before it was put on sale and the unusually low price and basic packaging should have raised suspicions. Fake alcohol is a growing problem and the public should be on their guard because of its potentially toxic nature.
“If they have genuine concerns regarding the alcohol being sold in bars or shops I would urge them to contact the Citizens Advice Helpline 08454 04 05 06.”
