One alcohol expert is speaking out after at least 124 people died reportedly due to drinking bootleg alcohol in Turkey since the start of the year, according to CBS. This also follows a tragic case in Laos last year, where a handful of tourists died from suspected methanol poisoning from free shots they were given while on holiday.
Daniel Ufland, founder of premier whisky retailer The Whisky Masters, explained there are seven key signs that could indicate your drink has fake alcohol. This could be life-saving advice as it can be difficult to tell the difference between early methanol poisoning symptoms and normal intoxication.
The expert warned: “This deadly trade in fake alcohol is not only illegal but potentially lethal. With reports of fake alcohol poisoning cases soaring, it’s become paramount to know how to spot the fakes before they ruin your night—or your life.”
Packaging
Fake alcohol could be packaged, labelled, and sold as real brands, but Daniel revealed that this can often be its downfall. This could be one of the easiest ways to detect fake alcohol.
The expert explained that many counterfeits feature poor-quality labels, spelling mistakes, or blurry text, which may indicate a rushed or unprofessional print job. Additionally, if the seal appears to be broken or tampered with, this could be a red flag. You could even double-check your bottle using the barcode on a barcode lookup app.
Smell
The smell of certain real alcohol can be distinct and strong, but fake alcohol could have a more “chemical-like odour”. The expert even compared it to nail polish or paint thinner and urged people: “If a drink smells suspicious, it’s best not to take the risk.”
Fizz
If your drink is fizzing or bubbly when it normally isn’t, this could be a major red flag not only for fake alcohol but potentially that your drink has been tampered with. This could be the result of improper production or unsafe additives being used.
Pricing
Bootleg alcohol is surging as legitimate alcohol prices and taxes rise worldwide, which could mean the fakes will be sold for extremely low prices that may seem too good to be true. “Several tourists in Laos died after allegedly being served free drinks on a night out, so watch out for anyone offering things for free as well,” Daniel warned.
Texture
Having floating bits, an unusual colour or separate layers in your drink should be a major red flag. The expert emphasised that fake alcohols could have particularly syrupy or oily consistencies.
Sellers
It’s recommended to only buy alcohol from trusted, reputable sellers such as shops, bars and restaurants. Bootleg salesmen have been known to frequent market stalls as unlicensed vendors or even go door-to-door trying to sell their fake alcohol.
Flame test
This final check should not be attempted anywhere but at home and it can be dangerous. It involves pouring some of the suspicious alcohol onto a spoon and lighting it on fire.
The chemical for real alcohol, ethanol, has a very pure and almost invisible blue flame. Fake alcohol usually has high butanol and propanol levels, which burn with bright and orange flames.
Daniel warned this test is “very unreliable when trying to detect methanol, which has been a key component in some dangerous fake alcohol”. The expert warned people to be particularly cautious of alcohol when drinking abroad, specifically in countries where regulation or inspection might be more relaxed than in the UK.
He cautioned anyone planning to drink abroad: “Always watch your drink being poured, avoid unsealed bottles, and never accept free shots from strangers. Stick to reputable sources when buying alcohol and always remain vigilant.
“Consuming counterfeit booze can leave you with severe headaches, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, confusion, or even unconsciousness. If you or someone you know starts experiencing any of these symptoms after drinking, seek medical help immediately.”