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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Illegal 'vodka' blindness warning | Illegal 'vodka' blindness warning |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Fake vodka produced at an illegal bottling plant which could cause blindness has been found on sale in a south Wales pub. | Fake vodka produced at an illegal bottling plant which could cause blindness has been found on sale in a south Wales pub. |
| Thousands of litres of counterfeit "Christoff Vodka" have been uncovered at the factory in Cardiff. | Thousands of litres of counterfeit "Christoff Vodka" have been uncovered at the factory in Cardiff. |
| But a bottle had already been spotted in a Bridgend pub before news emerged of the plant. There are also reports of four bottles in a Blaenau Gwent shop. | But a bottle had already been spotted in a Bridgend pub before news emerged of the plant. There are also reports of four bottles in a Blaenau Gwent shop. |
| Other consumers have been warned to beware and not to drink it. | Other consumers have been warned to beware and not to drink it. |
| Initial tests of the vodka showed it had a methanol content many times what is permitted. | Initial tests of the vodka showed it had a methanol content many times what is permitted. |
| "It has a high methanol content which is harmful and can cause blindness," said a Cardiff trading standards spokesman. | "It has a high methanol content which is harmful and can cause blindness," said a Cardiff trading standards spokesman. |
| The illegal factory, on the Curran Embankment, Grangetown, was uncovered by HM Revenue and Customs in a raid on Thursday. | |
| It is not vodka and should not be consumed Steven Hay, trading standards Officers said it was the biggest seizure of illicit alcohol they had made for some time | It is not vodka and should not be consumed Steven Hay, trading standards Officers said it was the biggest seizure of illicit alcohol they had made for some time |
| Three Polish men arrested in connection with the find were released without charge. | Three Polish men arrested in connection with the find were released without charge. |
| The factory was being dismantled by customs officers. | The factory was being dismantled by customs officers. |
| Despite officials warning people who have bought "Christoff Vodka" to pour it away, as it could contain methylated spirits, public protection officers have discovered at least one pub selling the product. | Despite officials warning people who have bought "Christoff Vodka" to pour it away, as it could contain methylated spirits, public protection officers have discovered at least one pub selling the product. |
| The Bridgend pub was found to have the drink after trading standards officers spotted it for sale and went back to investigate. | The Bridgend pub was found to have the drink after trading standards officers spotted it for sale and went back to investigate. |
| Matthew Voisey, Bridgend Council cabinet member for the environment, said: "People should be aware of the potential dangers of cheap or unfamiliar brands of spirits and report any concerns. | Matthew Voisey, Bridgend Council cabinet member for the environment, said: "People should be aware of the potential dangers of cheap or unfamiliar brands of spirits and report any concerns. |
| "If you have purchased the vodka, do not drink it. Any traders with bottles of the vodka in stock should remove them from sale immediately." | "If you have purchased the vodka, do not drink it. Any traders with bottles of the vodka in stock should remove them from sale immediately." |
| Early indications at the discovery of the illegal bottling plant showed that a quantity had left the factory for distribution, according to trading standards. | Early indications at the discovery of the illegal bottling plant showed that a quantity had left the factory for distribution, according to trading standards. |
| Official Steven Hay said: "The general public and traders across south Wales and beyond should be on the lookout for this particular brand of 'vodka'. | Official Steven Hay said: "The general public and traders across south Wales and beyond should be on the lookout for this particular brand of 'vodka'. |
| "It is not vodka and should not be consumed." | "It is not vodka and should not be consumed." |
| On Thursday Kathryn Corcoran, from HM Customs, said the vodka seizure was a "big operation". | On Thursday Kathryn Corcoran, from HM Customs, said the vodka seizure was a "big operation". |
| Ms Corcoran said 5,000 bottles had been found "labelled and ready to go" and vats containing thousands more litres which were waiting to be bottled, equating to about £500,000 in lost revenue altogether. | Ms Corcoran said 5,000 bottles had been found "labelled and ready to go" and vats containing thousands more litres which were waiting to be bottled, equating to about £500,000 in lost revenue altogether. |
| Officers also found methylated spirits and industrial alcohol in the warehouse. | Officers also found methylated spirits and industrial alcohol in the warehouse. |
| Mr Hay appealed for anyone who has any '1806 Christoff 100% Pure Vodka' in their possession or knows where any of the illicit alcohol is to get in touch with Cardiff trading standards or their local trading standards service. | Mr Hay appealed for anyone who has any '1806 Christoff 100% Pure Vodka' in their possession or knows where any of the illicit alcohol is to get in touch with Cardiff trading standards or their local trading standards service. |