Gatecrasher Clubs and Bar Limited has been fined £,5000 and order to pay £2,095.67 costs after it was found guilty of selling industrial alcohol as vokda at a freshers week event last year.

Last year, West Yorkshire Trading Standard visited Bed Nightclub, Leeds after a complaint was made that the premises might be selling counterfeit vodka.

Whilst searching the premises officers found a 656 litres of fake spirits labelled as “Premium Vodka,’ which had recently been removed from sale after the manager unsurprisingly received complaints from patrons.

Once the fake vodka was remove it was then sent to a laboratory by West Yorkshire Police for testing, it was found to contain isopropanol, tertiary butanol and chloroform, none of which should be in vodka.

Apparently the fake booze was obtained in “cash deal” arrange through the head office of Gatecrasher Clubs and Bars Ltd, which is based in Sheffield.

Bill Urry, of the Trading Standards Committee, said: “This is West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service’s biggest seizure yet of fake vodka. I am astounded that a nightclub operator could have such scant regard for public safety by buying drink in this manner. It is fortunate that the manager acted quickly and no-one was harmed.

“Adequate checks were not carried out on the product before it was put on sale and the unusually low price and basic packaging should have raised suspicions. Fake alcohol is a growing problem and the public should be on their guard because of its potentially toxic nature.

“If they have genuine concerns regarding the alcohol being sold in bars or shops I would urge them to contact the Citizens Advice Helpline 08454 04 05 06.”