Don’t Selekt this Vodka

There is a potentially lethal counterfeit vodka on sale in Birmingham.

Next time you’re buying vodka for pre-drinks, be wary of ‘Selekt’ vodka.

City Council trade officers have seized bottles of Selekt brand vodka from an off licence in Handsworth, Birmingham.

The vodka was a copy of the genuine brand, which is only sold in Asda.

Brum councillor Barbara Dring said: “We are very concerned about the sale of this product in Birmingham, not just from a fraud point of view, but also because of the potential harm this product can cause if consumed.”

The counterfeit vodka contains a high level of methanol, which is potentially harmful.

Any product sold anywhere other than the official retailer should be regarded as suspicious.

Tips to help spot the fake vodka:

1) The Label – genuine bottles of Selekt vodka have a varnished glossy label to the touch, whereas the fake bottles have labels that are of a matt finish.

2) The Smell – the counterfeit vodka smells like methylated spirits.

3) The Code – Genuine bottles also have a lot code etched on the lower edge of the bottle and have the marking ‘AGC’ on the bottle base. Neither of these markings are featured on the counterfeit bottles.

Stay safe out there!