That might not be a treble Vodka..

Mike Louth · Nov 10, 2011

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/nort...sed-off-as-vodka-in-newcastle-72703-29664081/

To be clear, it's a white spirit not 'White Spirit' - but still.

CUT price white spirit is being passed off as vodka by rogue publicans on Tyneside, a consumer watchdog warned today.

In some bars customers wanting vodka are being conned as they are sold Tolstoy Imperial Spirit Drink, which does not have the same alcoholic content.

In documents seen by the Chronicle, licensing officials have criticised nightspot chiefs who sell the drink when customers ask for vodka.

And today Ollie Vaulkhard, director of the Newcastle-based Fluid Group which runs a number of bars including Bar Luga and Perdu, said the practice threatened to spark a “price war”.

He said he was aware of one wholesaler who was getting through 4,000 bottles of the spirit a week in the city centre and sale of the cut-price drink was a growing trend among licensed premises.

Each 70cl bottle is sold to bar bosses for £6.50 and there are 28 shots in each bottle. It means each measure costs 10p less than a shot of vodka.

Mr Vaulkhard said: “It’s one of those things - sometimes bar owners don’t cover themselves in glory but we don’t want to see people cutting corners.

“Trebles are things that my dad invented in the 70s and early 80s, it wasn’t about binge drinking it was just a good deal.

“I’m selling proper vodka and proper Coke and proper Red Bull but there are basement bargain drinks being sold for nothing.”

Vodka is classified as being 37.5% alcoholic but the spirits on sale in many bars have a 30% alcohol content.

It means wholesalers do not have to pay the same duty on the spirits and the booze can be sold at bars and nightclubs for cheap.

Now, in a letter distributed to a number of Tyneside bar owners, Stephen Savage, Newcastle City Council’s director of regulatory services and public protection, wrote: “It has come to my attention that a number of licensed premises in the city are using a white spirit, namely Tolstoy Imperial Spirit Drink, as a substitute for vodka.

“The spirit which is 30% alcohol by volume is being used to make trebles. Although the trebles are not described in the advertising material as ‘treble vodka’ the consumer would ask for a ‘treble vodka’ when placing an order. Vodka must have strength of at least 37.5% alcohol by volume.

“This practice is therefore misleading by failing to give the consumer all the information they need in order to make an informed choice about the treble they are ordering.”

Today Coun Stephen Lambert, deputy cabinet member for community safety and regulation, said: “It is important that customers know and understand what they are buying. The city council does not support the sale of poor quality cut price alcohol, which anyway could lead to binge drinking or alcohol related problems.”

Council chiefs are ordering boozers to display a notice informing the customer that the Tolstoy Spirit is being used for trebles instead of vodka.
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Conway · Nov 10, 2011

Where sells this stuff? Name and shame...

TheSpence · Nov 10, 2011

Read this story a few weeks back very weak article with the lack of naming. You gotta be gutted if you ask for a double vodka a red bull & get a double white spirit & moonshine instead.

Mike Louth · Nov 10, 2011

I wouldn't be surprised if it was another popular venue chain that recently went into administration.

Ash1 · Nov 10, 2011

Beware of 'Vodkat' - Iceland sell it for cheap biut only 30% too

Ian Cox · Nov 10, 2011

i'd dare guess the likes of the bigg market and the gate etc are rife with this, however i think revolution should be safe. Can't see them renaming that revolution white spirit bar...

Congay · Nov 10, 2011

you seen that new pepsi max citrus ?

fuck me, mr p loves a little bit mixed in with his reading tipple on a nightsie

thats a recomendation

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