Local Government Association (LGA), the national voice of local government in England, has warned drinkers to be careful from counterfeit alcohol.
The council's trading standards team has urged people not to buy or consume toxic fake vodka or rum, which can cause blindness or even death and also advised shoppers to keep an eye on telltale signs that represents bottles legitimacy.
Taking the examples from incidents in Czech Republic in September 2012, where 26 persons died of drinking counterfeit vodka and rum mixed with methanol and in West Sussex, where a person died of consuming a bottle of vodka mixed with 40% methanol, LGA regulation spokesman Paul Bettison told guardian.co.uk that they have come across instances where people died of consuming fake vodka.
"Everyone wants a bargain at this time of year, but by consuming fake alcohol people may be taking their life into their hands. These drinks are often made by organised gangs and may contain all sorts of toxic and dangerous substances," Bettison added.
Essex county council also found bottles of counterfeit spirits, marked as Smirnoff vodka, being distributed in the county at low prices and warned citizens to be aware of it.
