Drinkers have been warned about a distilled product on sale with a dangerously high level of alcohol.
The bottle with the name Spirytus, meaning rectified spirit, has been reported to trading standards officers, after it was discovered to have an alcohol by volume (ABV) content of 95%.
Powys Council’s trading standards service says the item may confuse purchases when it is offered in an alcohol section of the store, due to its inadequate labelling.
They say they have also received information the alcohol has been marketed as being ‘suitable as a disinfectant’ which is incorrect.
They are now advising consumers not to consume such spirits neat.
Clive Jones, the council’s professional lead for trading standards, community safety and emergency planning, said: “We are aware that these products maybe on sale in some shops in Powys and we want to make unsuspecting customers aware at the earliest opportunity about this issue.
“An ABV of 95% is simply too strong an alcohol to be drunk neat as a shot drink.
“We suspect the product may not have adequate labelling, for example, not having instructions for use in English, and therefore poses a hazard to people who consume it neat.
“We don’t want people to misuse the product thereby posing a risk to their health and possibly their lives.
“To furthermore claim that the product is suitable as a disinfectant adds further confusion and risk to potential buyers.”
Most spirit drinks are around the 40% abv mark, so the items is more than double the strength of regular spirits.
The authority has declined to reveal where it was on sale.
Councillor James Evans, Powys Council’s cabinet member for trading standards, said: “It is not acceptable for consumers to be offered food products without clear labelling and instructions. To claim that the product is suitable for disinfectant is also incorrect.
“Our trading standards officers work with partners to enforce strict legislations which ensures such products are labelled with clear instructions for use and meet safety standards.”
