COMPLAINTS from drinkers have helped trading standards officers uncover dozens of bottles of fake and potentially harmful vodka.

Eight different brands of illicit vodka have been seized from small convenience stores in Bournemouth in the run-up to Christmas.

Trading standards officers acted after a wave of complaints from people who had either been made ill by the counterfeit alcohol or were concerned that it smelt funny.

They targeted shops in Boscombe, Kinson, Winton and Old Christchurch Road and seized 35 bottles of fake vodka being sold at “pocket money prices.” At least 70 cases of counterfeit wine have also been seized.

Tests on the vodka revealed the drinks were poorly manufactured and did not contain sufficient alcohol to be proper vodka. More analysis is now being carried out to discover whether they contained harmful chemicals.

“We know it has not been properly produced, it’s nothing more than a lucky dip really,” said trading standards manager Andy Sherriff.

“Some of these brands have been tested by other authorities and found to be harmful to health. Our concern was to get them off the shelves as soon as possible and then check them out.

“Clearly while I’m delighted my officers have gone out and got this much stuff, I can’t believe that we’ve got the only 35 bottles that exist in Bournemouth.”

The vodka brands seized by officers are Drop, Russian Standard, Passion, Rocka and Arctic Ice.

Their labels contain no manufacturer’s details and they carry invalid barcodes. Some 750cl bottles were on sale for as little as £8.99 – almost half the price you might pay for a bottle of Smirnoff.

Zara Fulmer, senior technical officer, said: “With that sort of pricing, it is almost appealing to children and people who are a bit short of cash. They are pocket money prices.”

Anyone who is suspicious about alcohol products should contact consumer direct on 08454 040506.

Suspicious signs

You can check for fake alcohol, as the bottles will often have the following features:

• Misspellings on labels

• Labels glued on at odd angles

• Unusual prices of origin, such as vodka from Italy

•Printed labels without holograms

• Barcodes that read 1234567890

• Labels that carry no details of the manufacturer or producer

• Very cheap price tags