Dangerous Vodka Detected by Welsh Public Analyst Laboratories

The Public Analyst for Bridgend County Borough Council Trading Standards (Minton Treharne and Davies Ltd) received a sample of "1806 Christoff Vodka 100% Pure Grain" sampled from a local public house for authenticity. Analysis revealed it to contain 32.9 %ABV against a declared content of 37.5%ABV and 0.75% methanol.

While this analysis was being undertaken Customs Officers raided and closed an illegal bottling plant in Cardiff. Numbers of samples from this plant were submitted to the Public Analyst for Cardiff City Council (Cardiff Scientific Services). These included not only final bottled product but liquid awaiting bottling. The alcohol content of the bottled sample was found to be 36.5% ABV with a methanol content of 0.66% whilst the methanol content of the liquid awaiting bottling ranged from 0.63% to 1.81% w/v.

It appears that the "Vodka" is not a fermented and distilled spirit but processed industrial alcohol.

The Food Standards Agency has stated that levels of methanol in vodka should not exceed 0.05% (0.5g/L) on safety ground. Furthermore, there is a maximum prescribed level for methanol in vodka prescribed by The Spirit Drinks Regulations of 50g/hectolitre (0.05%) at 100%vol. This "Vodka" contained significantly higher methanol levels and has the potential to cause harm to any member of the public who consumes it.

5000 filled bottles awaiting distribution and vats containing thousands more awaiting processing were seized. This was a major illegal production plant. There is evidence that this product had been on sale since before Christmas as it is known of a bottle being used in a Christmas raffle.

Some images of the bottles are shown below.