Over 40 bottles of counterfeit vodka, fraudulently labelled as Glen’s, were taken from the shelves of the premises.

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Several fake vodka bottles have been collected from a Scottish store after a customer noticed a “nail varnish” odor.

Authorities confiscated over 40 bottles (35cl) of counterfeit vodka, falsely branded as Glen’s, from a location in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire. The bottles were seized following a complaint by a customer who detected the smell of nail varnish in one of the bottles they bought.

Officers from the North Lanarkshire Council‘s environmental health team along with Food Standard Scotland acted promptly to withdraw the vodka from sale. The seized bottles were analyzed and confirmed to be unauthorized.

The food watchdog together with North Lanarkshire Council is alerting the public to exercise heightened caution while purchasing alcohol. They also encourage consumers to scrutinize any alcohol products they may have recently bought. products.

Ron McNaughton, who leads the Scottish Food Crime and Incidents Unit at FSS, stated, “Consuming these types of products poses a significant health risk. Aspects such as the labeling, appearance of the packaging, and the odor can be indicators that something is amiss.

“Purchasing counterfeit alcohol is risky since you’re unaware of the ingredients it contains and its potency, which may cause severe illness or intoxication even after consuming just one or two drinks. We encourage you to contact us if you suspect you have purchased counterfeit products.”

Councillor Helen Loughran, who is the Chair of the Environment and Climate Change Committee at North Lanarkshire Council, commented, “This was an important find by our officers at a retail outlet in Coatbridge, who promptly removed these fraudulent items from the shelves. Our environmental health and food safety officers are continually on alert for counterfeit alcohol issues in North Lanarkshire to ensure the safety of the public.”

If anyone possesses details concerning counterfeit alcohol or broader issues of food crime, they are encouraged to reach out to the Scottish Food Crime Hotline (0800 028 7926), operated in association with Crimestoppers. This service is confidential and free to use.

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