TWO pubs caught selling vodka made with screen wash chemicals face losing their licences next week (March 17).

Police raided the Coach and Horses and Chaplains, both in Consett, County Durham, and found vodka made with industrial alcohol.

Durham Police now wants Durham County Council to strip the two of their booze licenses, trading standards officers having found numerous bottles of Kommissar vodka at both bars during raids on November 8.

The alcohol was tested using ultra violet light and found to be missing stamps of authenticity. Further tests revealed the vodka was not 'genuine' and was being sold illegally.

In a statement, Sergeant Tim Robson, Durham Police’s licensing officer, said: “The alcohol content of the samples were too low for the material to be categorised as a spirit drink.

“Further, the presence of isopropanol and t-butanol is consistent with the alcohol being of industrial rather than agricultural origin.

“The vodka contains the same chemical that is used in everyday car screen wash.

“The public analyst is therefore of the opinion the sample was unfit for human consumption.”

Both bars are owned by businessman Sunny Gill, who used to run the controversial lap dancing club Red Velvet, before it closed following a drugs raid.

An undercover operation revealed cocaine was being dealt on the premises.

A council report into the illicit alcohol says Mr Gill told Sgt Robson and the trading standards inspectors the vodka had been ordered from Nisa.

But Nisa had no record of purchases or deliveries for the vodka to either premises.

Sgt Robson’s statement continues: “This vodka is not fit for human consumption, indeed it is very harmful to an individual who consumes it.

“Customers have reported that this vodka tastes funny.

“It is clear that young persons under 18 frequent the Coach and Horses, I am of the belief that the management of these premises have intentionally purchased this illicit alcohol and not only displayed it within the premises but have continuously sold it to customers purporting it to be a safe, genuine product. This is not the case.”

A council licensing committee will discuss the issue at County Hall on Tuesday (March 17) at 10am.