Criminal gangs to flood UK with fake booze (From Your Local Guardian)

Criminal gangs to flood UK with fake booze, Surrey Police warn

11:00am Tuesday 29th May 2012 in Elmbridge By Louise Robertson

Fears over criminal gangs flooding the UK with fake alcohol ahead of the diamond jubilee and Euro 2012 celebrations have sparked a warning to drinkers.

The safety message followed a prosecution by Surrey County Council trading standards of a shopkeeper in Staines who stocked more than 200 bottles of fake booze.

One of the bottles of fake wine contained a dead spider and a fruit fly and prompted a county-wide warning.

Steve Playle, Surrey’s trading standards investigations and enforcement manager, said: “The sale of fake alcohol can be linked to criminal gangs who turn up at shops offering cheap drink, often from the back of a white van.

“We’re concerned the criminal underworld will be looking to make a quick buck by selling cheap drink ahead of diamond Jubilee and Euro 2012 celebrations.

“Our advice to shop owners is to only buy stock from reputable traders and make sure they keep the invoices.

“And we’d urge drinkers not to be tempted by cheap alcohol prices that seem too good to be true.”