Trading inspectors ‘on the booze’ for the real McCoy
Sunday, 11 May 2008 08:58
They took samples of 63 brands of whisky and brandy as they went from one off licence and pub to another.
They staggered through a list of 27 licensed premises in London's East End last week, including Brick Lane and Canary Wharf.
But they scotched any rumour that it made them tipsy... they didn't consume a drop, they said.
Instead, the men from the council fed the spirits into a machine which 'drank' it for them!
Tower Hamlets Council's trading standards officers were out with colleagues from the International Federation of Spirit Producers using their special machine analysing the molecular 'fingerprint' of each brand to test whether consumers are getting the brand they're sold.
They found seven 'questionable results' in five premises while out testing whisky last week, the trading standards office revealed.
The machine they used can tell whether well-known brands such as Bell's, Famous Grouse or Jameson are genuine by analysing the molecular 'fingerprint' of each brand.
The 63 tests were carried out in 27 different premises. Most were found to be 'trading fairly' and serving the brand displayed.
But seven questionable results came from dodgy outlets in Mile End, Canary Wharf, Wapping and Brick Lane.
Now the local authority is starting an investigation which could lead to prosecutions under Trading Standards regulations.
"For years the whisky industry has been involved in a worldwide battle to halt the sale of inferior products passed off as the real thing," explained council cabinet member Abdal Ullah.
"It is estimated up to seven per cent of the world trade is counterfeit.
"Thousands of pubs and restaurants is Britain are suspected of substituting cheap fakes for genuine malts and blends."
The testing carried out in the East End last week means the authority can take 'immediate action' against those peddling the poor quality, and sometimes dangerous, imitations.
What a job. But someone has to do it.
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