A warning has been issued to shopkeepers buying illicit alcohol from ‘the proverbial white van man’, which could cause blindness and even death. 

Last year, a total of 50 independent stores and off licences were raided by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) during an operation carried out with the Met and Waltham Forest Trading Standards.

Officers seized 264 litres of spirits, 435 litres of wine, 39,000 cigarettes and seven kilograms of tobacco.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Alcohol seized by Trading Standards officers

After a licence review, Diana Supermarket in Forest Road and E17 Supermarket in Higham Hill Road, became the latest of four stores to be banned by Waltham Forest council from selling alcohol.

The owners of SFW Express, opposite Leytonstone Tube station in Church Lane, were ordered to pay court costs of £11,983 after losing an appeal at having its licence revoked in June.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

SFW Express ordered to pay court costs after losing appeal.

E17 Food and Wine in Hoe Street also had its licence suspended for three months.

The council says those businesses are now facing prosecution, which can bring fines of up to £5,000 and prison terms of up to ten years.

In a warning letter issued by the council, businesses across Waltham Forest were told of the dangers of stocking illicit goods as chemicals in counterfeit alcohol can potentially cause dizziness, nausea, blindness and, in extreme cases, death.

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Deputy leader and cabinet member for environment, Councillor Clyde Loakes issued the letter to businesses across Waltham Forest.

Cllr Loakes said: “Where we identify businesses that are selling illicit alcohol or tobacco – whether it is fake booze that has been produced in counterfeit bottles and has been labelled as a genuine product, or is genuine branded alcohol that has been purchased without any tax or duty being paid – we will act.”

“If it looks too good to be true it probably is, so if you buy goods off the proverbial ‘white van man’, rather than from legitimate and reputable sources, you are opening yourselves up to a problem you will be held responsible for.”

Government estimates put the cost of alcohol fraud at around £1billion a year in lost revenue.