Warning Festive Drinkers: Fake Alcoholic Drinks Causes Blindness

Shoppers should also be wary of unusually cheap alcohol, and think twice before purchasing bottles bearing unusual brand names, spelling mistakes and crooked labels.

Festive drinkers are being warned about the dangers of fake alcoholic drinks ahead of New Year's Eve celebrations on Thursday.

Hundreds of thousands of litres' worth of counterfeit booze, which often contains lethal chemicals including chloroform, have been confiscated and destroyed in recent months - but officials fear potentially life-threatening products could still be on sale.

Isopropanol, a substance often found in anti-freeze, has also been detected in some fake beverages - as well as ethyl acetate, a common ingredient in nail polish remover which can lead to organ damage if it is ingested by humans.

According to the Local Government Association (LGA), consuming bootleg alcohol could also lead to permanent blindness, kidney and liver problems, and death in extreme cases.

Partygoers are being urged to check the smell of vodka in pubs and clubs, as fake spirits can often smell like nail varnish.

The LGA's Simon Blackburn said: "Everyone likes a bargain, especially at this time of year, but drinking cheap, fake alcohol could seriously harm your health and even kill you, so people should avoid it at all costs.