Shop is fined for stocking deadly drink

9:10am Friday 1st February 2013 in News

Trading Standards officers Anu Prashar and Richard Webb with the fake vodka Trading Standards officers Anu Prashar and Richard Webb with the fake vodka

AN Oxford newsagent has been fined for stocking bootleg vodka containing a potentially deadly chemical.

Drinking one shot of the fake Arctic Ice Vodka would be the equivalent of five shots, according to Trading Standards officers.

Experts said it contained dangerously high levels of chemical propan-2-ol which is usually found in car windscreen wash and nail varnish remover.

Exessive consumption could cause brain damage or serious heart problems.

Trading Standards officers uncovered the lethal brew on the shelves of Iffley News in Iffley Road in December 2011 and hit the firm with £5,000 in fines at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

The company was fined £4,000 for stocking the unsafe vodka, and £1,000 for failing to identify the supplier.

Richard Webb, the acting head of Oxfordshire County Council’s Trading Standards team, said: “This was a case of a ‘white van man’ turning up at the store and selling his alcohol at a very low price. We hope this sends out a message to other businesses that selling unsafe goods not only puts their customers at risk but can also lead to hefty punishments for them.

“This particular incident involved unsafe vodka – drinking about the third of the bottle could have lethal consequences.

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“We urge any business that is approached by unlicensed people looking to sell goods to contact us as well as any member of the public who may spot counterfeit goods.”

Earlier this month trading standardswarned residents people to watch out for fake bottles of Arctic Ice which had been found on sale in Oxfordshire.

Officers were alarmed by the dangerously high levels of potentially deadly chemicals.

Anyone who had bought the drink was advised to destroy it, and if they had drank any to seek medical advice immediately.

In December the Oxford Mail revealed that the trading standards team seized 227 bottles of fake wine and eight bottles of vodka since June last year.

About £2,000 of counterfeit alcohol was seized from Ansh Food and Wine in Chinnor in April.

The haul included 147 bottles of fake Blossom Hill wine, 28 bottles of counterfeit Jacob’s Creek wine, and one bottle of fake vodka.

Judith Heathcoat, cabinet member for safer and stronger communities, said: “This case is particularly alarming as the high levels of the chemical effects of this vodka could lead to brain damage and heart problems.”

No one from the shop was available to comment.

Comments (11)

10:20am Fri 1 Feb 13

Gunslinger says...

Only a £4000 fine for selling potentially lethal vodka?

Somebody should go to jail for this.

Shopkeepers would think twice about handling bootleg products if they were held strictly liable for the quality and safety of what they sold.
Only a £4000 fine for selling potentially lethal vodka? Somebody should go to jail for this. Shopkeepers would think twice about handling bootleg products if they were held strictly liable for the quality and safety of what they sold. Gunslinger

11:42am Fri 1 Feb 13

colbart says...

What about his licence to sell alcohol was it revoked??, or is he still able to sell it.

What happened to the 'strict' rules supposed to be put in place?.
What about his licence to sell alcohol was it revoked??, or is he still able to sell it. What happened to the 'strict' rules supposed to be put in place?. colbart

1:04pm Fri 1 Feb 13

Grunden Skip says...

Gunslinger wrote:
Only a £4000 fine for selling potentially lethal vodka?

Somebody should go to jail for this.

Shopkeepers would think twice about handling bootleg products if they were held strictly liable for the quality and safety of what they sold.
I am more concerned at his paltry £1,000 fine for not grassing up the supplier. The supplier will be the real criminal in this, with him selling to many shops over the country. Knowing the shop it was a case of "white van man" turning up (pre-arranged) and selling to a network of small shops. But the white van man is not white, and the criminal activity continues. It should have been a £10,000 fine for not disclosing the identity of the suppliers, and then these small shops will stop the network of dangerous goods that they sell knowing that they are so. Is it any surprise that the shop is only a few yards from The Nanford Guest House, another hive of dubious activity.
[quote][p][bold]Gunslinger[/bold] wrote: Only a £4000 fine for selling potentially lethal vodka? Somebody should go to jail for this. Shopkeepers would think twice about handling bootleg products if they were held strictly liable for the quality and safety of what they sold.[/p][/quote]I am more concerned at his paltry £1,000 fine for not grassing up the supplier. The supplier will be the real criminal in this, with him selling to many shops over the country. Knowing the shop it was a case of "white van man" turning up (pre-arranged) and selling to a network of small shops. But the white van man is not white, and the criminal activity continues. It should have been a £10,000 fine for not disclosing the identity of the suppliers, and then these small shops will stop the network of dangerous goods that they sell knowing that they are so. Is it any surprise that the shop is only a few yards from The Nanford Guest House, another hive of dubious activity. Grunden Skip

2:14pm Fri 1 Feb 13

Lord Palmerstone says...

Grunden Skip wrote:
Gunslinger wrote:
Only a £4000 fine for selling potentially lethal vodka?

Somebody should go to jail for this.

Shopkeepers would think twice about handling bootleg products if they were held strictly liable for the quality and safety of what they sold.
I am more concerned at his paltry £1,000 fine for not grassing up the supplier. The supplier will be the real criminal in this, with him selling to many shops over the country. Knowing the shop it was a case of "white van man" turning up (pre-arranged) and selling to a network of small shops. But the white van man is not white, and the criminal activity continues. It should have been a £10,000 fine for not disclosing the identity of the suppliers, and then these small shops will stop the network of dangerous goods that they sell knowing that they are so. Is it any surprise that the shop is only a few yards from The Nanford Guest House, another hive of dubious activity.
I think they're talking fusel oil which turns up in beer frequently and gives it an unpleasant taste. I think any competent Eastern European distiller would easily avoid it and it would give a nauseating taste in significant quantities so you'd not touch it. Tell us City Council, the proportion in the product and do stop puffing the state's tax monopoly. If I liked gin or vodka that much I wouldn't throw away a fortune on tax. I'd make it and it would be fine. So stop bleating
[quote][p][bold]Grunden Skip[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Gunslinger[/bold] wrote: Only a £4000 fine for selling potentially lethal vodka? Somebody should go to jail for this. Shopkeepers would think twice about handling bootleg products if they were held strictly liable for the quality and safety of what they sold.[/p][/quote]I am more concerned at his paltry £1,000 fine for not grassing up the supplier. The supplier will be the real criminal in this, with him selling to many shops over the country. Knowing the shop it was a case of "white van man" turning up (pre-arranged) and selling to a network of small shops. But the white van man is not white, and the criminal activity continues. It should have been a £10,000 fine for not disclosing the identity of the suppliers, and then these small shops will stop the network of dangerous goods that they sell knowing that they are so. Is it any surprise that the shop is only a few yards from The Nanford Guest House, another hive of dubious activity.[/p][/quote]I think they're talking fusel oil which turns up in beer frequently and gives it an unpleasant taste. I think any competent Eastern European distiller would easily avoid it and it would give a nauseating taste in significant quantities so you'd not touch it. Tell us City Council, the proportion in the product and do stop puffing the state's tax monopoly. If I liked gin or vodka that much I wouldn't throw away a fortune on tax. I'd make it and it would be fine. So stop bleating Lord Palmerstone

2:18pm Fri 1 Feb 13

steve king says...

Not quite sure what your point is LP? but I do hope that TV Police and OCC will object to the renewal of their licence when next it comes up? the local councillor should have something to add too.
Not quite sure what your point is LP? but I do hope that TV Police and OCC will object to the renewal of their licence when next it comes up? the local councillor should have something to add too. steve king

4:56pm Fri 1 Feb 13

loicl says...

the oxfordmail should investigate who owns the shop because I think it might be the same peopel who have been running a letting agency that has been fined for other reasons as well
the oxfordmail should investigate who owns the shop because I think it might be the same peopel who have been running a letting agency that has been fined for other reasons as well loicl

7:17pm Fri 1 Feb 13

steve king says...

There you go OM, get your investigation teeth into that little lot !
There you go OM, get your investigation teeth into that little lot ! steve king

9:47pm Fri 1 Feb 13

colin777 says...

loicl wrote:
the oxfordmail should investigate who owns the shop because I think it might be the same peopel who have been running a letting agency that has been fined for other reasons as well
ur probably right and we all know what part of the world they crept in from dont we?? this country is **** and the politicians are just fiddling while we burn afraid of upsetting the do-gooders....will the last one out turn the lights out :(
[quote][p][bold]loicl[/bold] wrote: the oxfordmail should investigate who owns the shop because I think it might be the same peopel who have been running a letting agency that has been fined for other reasons as well[/p][/quote]ur probably right and we all know what part of the world they crept in from dont we?? this country is **** and the politicians are just fiddling while we burn afraid of upsetting the do-gooders....will the last one out turn the lights out :( colin777

10:20pm Fri 1 Feb 13

lfcaware says...

Half ounce of backy?.
Half ounce of backy?. lfcaware

3:34am Sat 2 Feb 13

Oxford_Al says...

colin777 wrote:
loicl wrote:
the oxfordmail should investigate who owns the shop because I think it might be the same peopel who have been running a letting agency that has been fined for other reasons as well
ur probably right and we all know what part of the world they crept in from dont we?? this country is **** and the politicians are just fiddling while we burn afraid of upsetting the do-gooders....will the last one out turn the lights out :(
Racism should be left out and the court has fined them, but I guess it's ok for a white company to feed England horse meat in the name of beef but when a small shop makes a mistake you bring in the race card
[quote][p][bold]colin777[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]loicl[/bold] wrote: the oxfordmail should investigate who owns the shop because I think it might be the same peopel who have been running a letting agency that has been fined for other reasons as well[/p][/quote]ur probably right and we all know what part of the world they crept in from dont we?? this country is **** and the politicians are just fiddling while we burn afraid of upsetting the do-gooders....will the last one out turn the lights out :([/p][/quote]Racism should be left out and the court has fined them, but I guess it's ok for a white company to feed England horse meat in the name of beef but when a small shop makes a mistake you bring in the race card Oxford_Al

5:12am Sat 2 Feb 13

Grunden Skip says...

Oxford_Al wrote:
colin777 wrote:
loicl wrote:
the oxfordmail should investigate who owns the shop because I think it might be the same peopel who have been running a letting agency that has been fined for other reasons as well
ur probably right and we all know what part of the world they crept in from dont we?? this country is **** and the politicians are just fiddling while we burn afraid of upsetting the do-gooders....will the last one out turn the lights out :(
Racism should be left out and the court has fined them, but I guess it's ok for a white company to feed England horse meat in the name of beef but when a small shop makes a mistake you bring in the race card
I think you will find that it was an Irish company, supplied by Poland, and nobody has said that it is alright. But a bit of horse mixed in with a few cows eyeballs, feet, and butt cheeks, will do you no harm, unlike drinking nail varnish remover. And there is no racism here, but race has to mentioned when it is a certain race that seems to be prosecuted for this offence every time. That is not racism, it is fact. But then I suppose you think that mentioning Irish Companies and a Polish supplier is Racism as well. Grow up.
[quote][p][bold]Oxford_Al[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]colin777[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]loicl[/bold] wrote: the oxfordmail should investigate who owns the shop because I think it might be the same peopel who have been running a letting agency that has been fined for other reasons as well[/p][/quote]ur probably right and we all know what part of the world they crept in from dont we?? this country is **** and the politicians are just fiddling while we burn afraid of upsetting the do-gooders....will the last one out turn the lights out :([/p][/quote]Racism should be left out and the court has fined them, but I guess it's ok for a white company to feed England horse meat in the name of beef but when a small shop makes a mistake you bring in the race card[/p][/quote]I think you will find that it was an Irish company, supplied by Poland, and nobody has said that it is alright. But a bit of horse mixed in with a few cows eyeballs, feet, and butt cheeks, will do you no harm, unlike drinking nail varnish remover. And there is no racism here, but race has to mentioned when it is a certain race that seems to be prosecuted for this offence every time. That is not racism, it is fact. But then I suppose you think that mentioning Irish Companies and a Polish supplier is Racism as well. Grow up. Grunden Skip

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