Argyll and Bute Council ​are tracking down and removing potentially dangerous counterfeit bottles of Glen’s vodka which may have found their way to the market.

Their environmental health team is working with colleagues in licensing and trading standards to remove the fake items.

All Scottish local authorities have received a food alert action notice from Food Standards Scotland (FSS), requesting the identification and inspection of relevant establishments to check for counterfeit products and raise awareness.

This follows lab results, testing counterfeit vodka seized in August, confirming the presence of isopropyl, a toxic alcohol not suitable for human consumption.

(Image: Argyll and Bute Council)

Ingesting any amount of IPA can lead to toxicity and larger amounts can be fatal.

Symptoms can show immediately or be delayed up to 30 hours post ingestion, including nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, intoxication, respiratory depression, and coma.

Cardiovascular collapse is also possible.

Any concerned individuals should alert NHS 111, or in severe circumstances, dial 999.

While IPA emanates a strong odour, aiding in product detection, the Environmental Health team advises not to rely solely on its smell.

Customers suspecting a counterfeit product should safely store it and contact the Environmental Health team at envhealthwest@argyll-bute.gov.uk or the FSS Scottish Food Crime and Incidents Unit at foodcrime@fss.scot.

Genuine Glen’s vodka bottles can be recognised by a laser-etched lotcode between the rear label and the base, bottle size in millilitres, fill height and a bottle ID on the bottom.

Those with information about counterfeit alcohol sales or manufacture should contact the anonymous Scottish Food Crime Hotline 0800 028 7926.